HOUSTON – Three employees have sued their former bosses claiming that they were fired for refusing to take part in company fraud.
Plaintiffs Kevin Sodke, Amber Siau-Sodke and Hailee Wendling filed the lawsuit in the Harris County District Court against Houston Elite Property Management, LLC, d/b/a Real Property Management, Preferred, Shawn Wolfswinkel and Joni Wolfswinkel, citing wrongful termination and constructive discharge.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs were all employees of the defendants in 2022. The plaintiffs allege during their employment, the defendants repeatedly committed criminal fraud and that the defendants asked plaintiff Siau-Sodke to assist them in their criminal behavior. Siau-Sodke states that she refused, but that the defendants repeatedly asked her to commit fraud until she felt she was forced to resign.
Plaintiff Sodke is married to Siau-Sodke and claims that when told the defendants that his wife resigned because she refused to commit fraud, the defendants fired him.
Plaintiff Wendling witnessed the fraud that was happening in her workplace and was also compelled to resign.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for lost wages and benefits, plus punitive damages, interest, court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented in this case by attorney Gregg M. Rosenberg of Rosenberg and Associates in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2022-75135