Chicago Woman Sues Target for Allegedly Violating Civil Rights Law
A Chicago woman, Courtney McElrath-Bey, who has a pending robbery case, has filed a lawsuit against Target, accusing the retail giant of violating Illinois civil rights law by rescinding a conditional job offer after discovering her unresolved criminal case.
McElrath-Bey, 35, claims that Target unlawfully used her background against her when it decided not to hire her for a warehouse position last year. Her lawsuit, filed in February, seeks damages and could potentially cover other applicants who were denied jobs under similar circumstances.
According to the complaint, Target offered McElrath-Bey a conditional job in October for a warehouse position, contingent on the results of a background check. The screening revealed pending criminal charges against her, leading Target to send her a “Pre-Adverse Action Notification” informing her of the unresolved charges.
In March 2024, McElrath-Bey was charged with robbery and aggravated battery for her alleged involvement in mugging a woman in Chicago. She maintains her innocence and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Despite McElrath-Bey’s explanation that the charges were still pending and her assertion of innocence, Target allegedly withdrew the job offer. Her lawsuit argues that Target’s decision violates the state’s Employee Background Fairness Act, which prohibits the use of criminal history in hiring decisions in many cases.
The lawsuit seeks to include individuals whose job applications were rejected by Target for similar reasons dating back to October 2023. It highlights the importance of complying with state laws regarding the use of criminal history in employment decisions.
Aside from the pending robbery case, McElrath-Bey was also arrested for misdemeanor retail theft and criminal trespassing at a Walmart in December 2025. However, prosecutors dropped the charges in January 2026 after the store failed to send a representative to court.
