Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services sued over claims of discrimination against employee

A Texas woman is suing over claims she was discriminated against in her employment with a state agency.

Yolanda F. Douglas filed a lawsuit Aug. 6 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, citing discrimination. 

According to the complaint, Douglas was employed by the defendant, known as DARS, as a management support specialist, when, on March 13, 2013, a female employee who had been unsuccessful in applying for the support specialist position awarded to Douglas sent her an e-mail, accusing her of showing an explicit photo to her during work hours. Douglas says that despite a lack of evidence and her responses to the contrary, she was placed on administrative leave May 2, 2013, and told to resign under threat of termination.

The complaint states Douglas requested lesser discipline per DARS policy but it was denied, despite the fact that a male employee who showed an explicit photo to the same employee who fabricated the accusation against Douglas was not terminated. Douglas says she resigned in order to preserve benefits she had accrued over 25 years of working for DARS. The defendant is accused of gender and racial discrimination.

Douglas is seeking back pay, reinstatement or front pay, attorney fees, and damages. She is being represented by attorney Alan L. Quiles of the Quiles Law Firm in Houston.

The case number is Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case 4:14-cv-2257

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it only represents one side of the story.