Terry McQueen, a former senior paralegal, has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, a prominent law firm, alleging discrimination based on race, age, and disability. The complaint was lodged by McQueen in the District Court of Harris County, Texas on January 30, 2025, targeting Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons LLP as the defendant.
The case revolves around McQueen's employment experience at Thompson Coe from March 2022 until her termination in January 2024. McQueen claims she faced discrimination and harassment due to her race (African American), age (66 years old), and visible disability (Essential Tremors). She alleges that after excelling in her role and receiving bonuses for her performance, she was unjustly terminated following a brief medical leave. According to the petition, McQueen was replaced by significantly younger non-African American paralegals shortly after her dismissal.
McQueen asserts that throughout her tenure at Thompson Coe, she was subjected to differential treatment compared to younger Caucasian colleagues. She recounts instances where she was held accountable for tasks others refused to perform and received criticism over pre-approved overtime work necessary for handling large caseloads. The lawsuit details an environment where derogatory remarks were made about staff working on major cases like Westlake—a project McQueen contributed significantly to—highlighting systemic issues within the firm.
In seeking justice through the court system, McQueen is pursuing monetary relief exceeding $200,000 but not more than $1 million. Her claims include violations of the Texas Labor Code concerning disability discrimination (§21.051), race discrimination (§21.051), age discrimination (§21.051), and hostile work environment based on these factors. She requests compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits as well as punitive damages for the alleged malice or reckless indifference exhibited by Thompson Coe towards her protected rights.
Representing Terry McQueen are attorneys Melissa Moore, Rochelle Owens, and Curt Hesse from Moore & Associates based in Houston. The case is presided over by Judge Christopher Matthews under Case ID 2025-06489 in the 80th Judicial District Court of Harris County.