Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit Thursday against the owner of a Lockport McDonald’s restaurant, alleging more than 550 violations of the Illinois Child Labor Law.
Raoul alleged owner Nicholas Kory, president and manager of Lockor LCC, employed at least 26 minors aged 14 to 15 years, without a work permit and for excessive hours, without rest and meal breaks, during the school year at McDonald’s on the 1000 block of East 9th Street in Lockport.
The lawsuit alleges children worked at the restaurant at night, including as late as 1 a.m., and for shifts as long as 17 hours, which Raoul called the most egregious in the lawsuit.
“Employment can teach minors valuable lessons in responsibility and money management,” Raoul said in a statement. “It is absolutely unacceptable that a local business owner would take advantage of young employees who are just starting their time in the workforce.”
Kory said in a statement provided by a McDonald’s spokesperson that he and the company have taken steps to address concerns that were raised. McDonald’s did not provide its own statement.
“We take these allegations seriously,” Kory said in the statement. “They do not reflect our organization’s values or the standards we set for ourselves as a local business or an employer in the community. We are committed to ensuring that all our employees feel safe, respected and valued.”
The lawsuit seeks to prevent the owners from violating the child labor law and asks for civil penalties to be distributed to the affected minors and to the state’s child labor and day and temporary labor services enforcement fund.
The owners also face a $2.1 million dollar fine from the Illinois Department of Labor, issued in November 2023.
This case was referred to Raoul’s office by the Illinois Department of Labor after the department received a complaint in 2023 that alleged Lockor and Kory were allowing employees under 16 years old to work late-night shifts at the restaurant.
The Labor Department investigated the restaurant’s employment practices from Jan. 1 to July 8, 2023, and found 26 of the 36 employees were children between the ages of 14 and 15 and that only six of the minors had employment certificates, according to the lawsuit.
The department also alleged in its investigation that in 55 instances, Lockor and Kory permitted the minors to work more than five hours without a required meal or rest break, according to the lawsuit.
Following its investigation, the department sent a formal notice of 568 violations of the child labor law and assessed over $2.1 million in civil penalties, which the company allegedly has not paid, according to the lawsuit.
“This case should send a clear message: exploiting children in the workplace will not be tolerated in Illinois,” Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan said in a statement. “These are not technical violations — they are serious breaches that put young people’s health, safety, and education at risk.”
The Illinois Child Labor law requires employers to obtain an employment certificate issued by a local school authority if hiring 14- or 15-year-old students.
The law also limits when minors can work and the total hours they are allowed to work each day and week.
The next court date is at 10 a.m. on May 4 before Cook County Judge Joel Chupack at the Richard J Daley Center.
Raoul encouraged workers who believe their rights have been violated to call his Workplace Rights Hotline at 1-844-740-5076, or file a complaint in English or Spanish by visiting the website www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.
awright@chicagotribune.com
