Joliet Pays Out Hefty Settlement To Resolve Lawsuit Against HR Director Kathy Franson

JOLIET, IL — Next week marks the final week on the job for Joliet's departing human resources director Kathy Franson, who announced her retirement plans in August. During Franson's final month on the job, the city of Joliet's legal department has settled a federal lawsuit against Franson, along with finance director Kevin Sing and former city manager Jim Capparelli.

Joliet agreed to pay out $260,000 to former finance department employee Tamara Edmonson, who filed her federal lawsuit against her former employer in November 2024, contending that Joliet violated the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 in getting rid of her.

According to the $260,000 settlement, a check for $75,005 will be paid to Edmonson, representing lost wages for the time period August 2024 to July 2025. Another check in the amount of $96,531 will be paid to Edmonson "for alleged pain and suffering."

Finally, a third city check, in the amount of $88,464, designated for attorneys fees, will go to Avery Kill, the Chicago law firm responsible for representing Edmonson and filing her lawsuit.

"Edmonson hereby fully releases and forever discharges the defendants from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, or liability of any kind, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, arising out of or relating in any way to her employment with the city, as well as any other occurrence up to and including the date that she signs this agreement," the settlement reads.

Last December, Joliet Patch reported the details of Edmonson's lawsuit against the city of Joliet's HR director, finance director and former city manager. The lawsuit accused the city of Joliet officials of Family Medical Act Leave interference, Family Medical Act Leave retaliation and violating the Americans With Disabilities Act.

"On information and belief, Defendants Capparelli, Franson and Sing were all involved in the decision to terminate Plaintiff," the lawsuit reads. "Defendants failed to accommodate Plaintiff’s work restrictions. In fact, they engaged in no interactive process at all regarding her request."

Edmonson was hired by Joliet as a finance department accountant back in December 2018. By July 2021, she took over the position of grants coordinator in the finance department and "received raises during her employment and always met or exceeded the legitimate performance expectations of her employer," her federal lawsuit noted.

Edmonson, however, began to suffer health ailments around December 2020, including severe pinched nerves in her neck. On May 24, 2021, she underwent surgery and later required an additional surgical procedure known as a cervical spine fusion. On Aug. 9, 2022, Edmonson submitted her request for 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave Act for the spinal fusion, her lawsuit outlined.

By Oct. 2, 2022, Edmonson's doctor released her to work remotely. Before her surgeries, she had a desk job with the city of Joliet, mostly working at a computer. Her lawsuit pointed out that "many other employees worked remotely and/or reduced schedules throughout plaintiff’s employment."

Edmonson sent an email to Capparelli on Oct. 2, 2022 asking for permission to return to work by working remotely. According to the lawsuit, the next day, Capparelli sent Edmonson an email saying, “Your request to work from home is denied.”

At that point, Edmonson remained off work using her remaining FMLA leave, according to her lawyer. Then, on Nov. 16, 2022, city finance director Sing denied Edmonson's request seeking to work no more than five hours per day, four days a week, until her next doctor's appointment the following month.

Finally, on Nov. 30, 2022, Franson, the HR director, notified Edmonson she was being fired and "no reason was given for her termination," court records noted.

By Dec. 5, 2022, Edmondson sent an email to Franson seeking reasons for her firing.

On Dec. 7, 2022, Franson sent Edmonson an email informing her "there were a few items discussed leading up to the decision: your inability to return to the office to work full time; reporting concerns; etc," the lawsuit outlined. "Plaintiff had no knowledge of 'reporting concerns.' In fact, she still does not know what that term means, and she had never been disciplined at any time regarding alleged 'reporting concerns' or anything else."

As for Franson, she became Joliet's human resources director in 2017.

This past August, she informed city of Joliet staff that she's leaving on Halloween.

"I am excited to announce that I will be retiring from the City of Joliet on October 31, 2025," Franson wrote in her email. "I wanted to give the City ample time to find my replacement to ensure a smooth transition with minimal impact. Therefore, you will be seeing the job posting for the next HR Director publicized soon. For HR assistance between now and October 31st, please don’t hesitate to contact me or another member of the HR Department Team.

"It has been an honor to work for the City of Joliet and a pleasure working with each of you and I wish you all much success in the years ahead."

According to Joliet's website regarding all of the city's current job openings, the director of human resources position is no longer accepting applications. Joliet is now reviewing applicants and scheduling interviews, and the position has not been filled.