Discrimination lawsuits from a homosexual teacher and a Black zoo-worker, plus a hotel guest allegedly disturbed by nude photos sent by its manager, are among five new cases of interest in Southeast Texas.
Nestor Londono v. Houston Independent School District
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Nov. 27
Londono, a gay man, was a longtime teacher at Lyons Elementary School who says he was well-liked by his peers but things changed in 2018 when Olivia Casares was hired as principal.
"From the initiation of her promotion, Ms. Casares was extremely unpleasant, unprofessional and unapproachable to Mr. Londono and made inappropriate and openly biased comments against the LGBTQ community to Mr. Londono and other faculty," his lawsuit says.
Academic standards fell during her reign, Londono said. He added she dismissed his input and "overloaded" him with work that wasn't his job. She is alleged to have called Londono "different" and "disgusting," plus referred to him as a woman.
"In countless meetings where Mr. Londono was present, Ms. Casares would address the entire audience as all 'ladies,'" the suit says.
Her alleged homophobia also targeted a lesbian teacher, the suit says. Londono filed an ethics complaint in May 2023, which led to an investigation that found his claims unsubstantiated.
Allegedly, he was told to either resign from HISD or move to a different school. He transferred to Coop Elementary School but says he was treated unfairly there, too. He filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Earlier this year, he was accused of calling a student a "monkey" and telling them they needed a shower. He calls this claim "fabricated." He was fired in April.
Terrence Robinson of TB Robinson Law Group represents Londono.
Marlon Davis v. Athens Hotel & Suites
Harris County District Court, Nov. 25
Davis says he was staying at the Houston hotel in November 2022 but was harassed by a manager who sent unsolicited sexual messages, then became violent when he complained.
Davis' lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages for claims like intentional infliction of emotional distress.
"These messages were unwelcomed by the plaintiff," the suit says. "Yet, Defendant's employee continued to send the messages.
"Thereafter, the manager proceeded to send her nudes to the Plaintiff. This action from the Defendant's manager towards the Plaintiff was not only repulsive but harmed the Plaintiff emotionally and mentally."
Keyla Nole v. Texas Children's Hospital, et al.
Harris County District Court, Nov. 20
Cole brings this suit against TCH on behalf of her son Daniel Nole, who received a kidney transplant in 2013. Labs in 2022 showed the possibility his body might be rejecting it.
After a treatment plan was discussed, the Noles were told the nephrology team wanted to administer an infusion of Rituximab as a precautionary measure, the suit says.
The doctor said it wasn't necessary and side effects included itching and rashes, the suit says. The infusion occurred Nov. 21, 2022, with Daniel complaining he felt like he was going to die because of troubled breathing and an increased heart rate.
It had started at a rate of 20 ml/hr but the last rate was noted at 80 ml/hr, the suit says. Named as defendants are Drs. Sathi Wijeyesinghe and Alisa Acosta.
"The whereabouts of Dr. Acosta and Dr. Wijeyesinghe during the increased ritux infusion cannot be accounted for and even more shocking is it is not known which physician if any was supervising Nurse Erika Reyes.
Daniel died that day at 17 years old. His obituary states because he was born prematurely, doctors didn't expect him to even make it to his first birthday.
Matthew Pearson II v. Houston Zoo
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Nov. 19
Pearson, a Black man, says he started work at the zoo's horticulture department in 2023. His manager changed in January 2024, and that new supervisor allegedly made homosexual advances to him despite Pearson explaining he had a girlfriend.
This led to a "pattern of retaliation" that included false disciplinary measures, the suit says. He was fired in March and now claims he was discriminated against based on his race.
Deneia Thomas v. The Board of Regents of Texas Southern University
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Nov. 18
Thomas started work at TSU in 2021 as vice president of enrollment and student success and as a professor of psychology with tenure.
"For the duration of Plaintiff's employment, she was met with overwhelming verbal and emotional hostility, bullying, collusion and harassment by Defendant Board Members and subordinate employees of international descent," the suit says.
She had lodged complaints about "residential life impropriety" by TSU staff. She was fired in June 2023 despite her tenure and claims she was not afforded due process rights to transition into a professorship role, which men had been allowed to do in the past.
She says her offer cut 65% of her salary, while men in similar situations only say 25% reductions.