In a compelling legal battle that sheds light on workplace discrimination and retaliation, a former employee of a Texas-based healthcare facility has taken legal action against his former employers. Matthew Sowders filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, on March 27, 2025, targeting Cascades at Jacinto Rehab, LP, Cascades at Jacinto LP, Cascades at Jacinto, and Cascades Healthcare of Texas, LLC. The case alleges serious violations including discrimination based on disability and sexual orientation, creating a hostile work environment, and unlawful termination.
The plaintiff, Matthew Sowders, worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the defendants' skilled nursing facility in Houston. He claims to have been subjected to harassment and discrimination by fellow CNA Joshua Adekanbi due to his disabilities and sexual orientation. Sowders is disabled with hearing problems and suffers from major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Despite these challenges, he was able to perform his job duties effectively. However, he faced persistent harassment from Adekanbi who allegedly belittled him for his hearing impairment and mocked his sexual orientation with derogatory remarks.
Sowders also reported witnessing Adekanbi engaging in conduct that endangered residents' safety—such as neglecting hygiene protocols and consuming illegal drugs while on duty—which he reported to his supervisor Yolanda Williams. Despite these reports, no corrective action was taken against Adekanbi. Instead, Sowders found himself facing threats of physical violence from Adekanbi after reporting these incidents.
The situation escalated when Sowders submitted written complaints about the harassment and threats to both Williams and Braunwyn Delco, the facility's administrator. Following this incident on April 13, 2024, both Williams and Sowders were terminated under questionable circumstances—Williams for attempting to report the issue further up the chain of command despite facing unprofessional conduct from Delco.
Sowders’ lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA) by discriminating against him based on sex and disability while also retaliating against him for reporting workplace misconduct—a breach of Texas Occupation Code § 301.4025(c) and Texas Administrative Code Title 22 § 217.19(m). The plaintiff seeks monetary relief exceeding $250,000 but not more than $1 million for damages including back pay, front pay, mental anguish compensation as well as attorney’s fees.
Represented by attorneys David B. Joeckel Jr. and Cullen Flaherty from The Joeckel Law Office in Fort Worth, Sowders is pursuing justice through this legal action seeking not only financial restitution but also punitive damages against the defendants for their alleged unlawful actions. The case has been assigned Case ID 2025-20771 in Harris County's 61st Judicial District Court.