A former employee has taken legal action against a prominent financial institution, alleging unlawful employment discrimination and retaliation. On January 23, 2026, Darlene Breban filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against BMO Bank, N.A. The lawsuit accuses the bank of terminating her employment due to her opposition to a hostile work environment and discriminatory practices based on sex and ethnicity.
Darlene Breban, a Hispanic/Latina female banker with over seventeen years of experience in the banking industry, claims that despite her exemplary performance at BMO Bank since 2021, she was subjected to unfair treatment following her complaints about workplace misconduct. Breban alleges that after reporting a hostile work environment created by a male colleague, she faced an accusatory investigation by BMO’s Global Investigations unit. She contends that this investigation was not only hostile but also unfounded, leading to her abrupt termination on August 1, 2024. “The accusations were broad and not specific,” Breban states in her complaint, emphasizing that similar male employees received lesser disciplinary actions for comparable issues.
Breban’s lawsuit outlines several counts against BMO Bank, including wrongful termination under common law/public policy violation, gender-based discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), retaliation under IHRA, and creating a hostile work environment. She argues that these actions violated both federal and state anti-discrimination laws. The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court: compensatory damages for monetary losses such as lost wages and benefits; non-monetary losses like emotional distress; punitive damages; prejudgment interest; costs; attorney’s fees; and any other relief deemed appropriate by law or equity.
The case sheds light on serious allegations within the workplace concerning gender and ethnic discrimination. Breban’s lawyer, Frank Avila of Chicago-based Frank Avila Law Firm, represents her in this matter. The case is presided over by Judge [Name] with Case ID: 1:26-cv-00821.
Source: 126cv00821_Darlene_Breban_v_BMO_Bank_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Texas.pdf
