A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. Minerva Sanchez lodged the complaint on April 9, 2025, in Harris County District Court against Chemoil Energy Services LLC and two of its employees, Richard Filkins and Jose Abascal.
The lawsuit details a series of disturbing events that Sanchez claims occurred during her employment with Chemoil Energy Services LLC from December 16, 2022, to January 30, 2024. According to the petition, Sanchez was subjected to inappropriate comments and advances by her supervisor, Richard Filkins. The harassment allegedly began shortly after she started working at the Midland facility as a Gravity Fuel System Technician. Sanchez recounts incidents where Filkins made lewd comments such as asking for her room number for a visit or requesting to see her breasts. She describes feeling disturbed and threatened by these interactions but feared speaking out due to potential job loss as she was the sole provider for her family.
Sanchez further alleges that after reporting Filkins' behavior to supervisors Jerry Holland and Thomas Crossland, instead of taking disciplinary action against Filkins, she was moved around different locations which affected her work hours and pay. This led to what she describes as retaliation when other employees were allowed consistent shifts while she faced reduced hours and isolation from colleagues who avoided working with her following the reports.
Despite escalating complaints about ongoing harassment and retaliation to Human Resources representatives Casey Cox and Cindi, Sanchez claims no effective measures were taken. The situation reportedly worsened when fellow employees made derogatory remarks or refused collaboration due to fear of repercussions from association with her.
In addition to workplace harassment claims under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA), Sanchez accuses Filkins of assault for grabbing her buttocks without consent. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) supported these allegations after an investigation found reasonable cause that Chemoil subjected Sanchez to an environment of sexual harassment.
Sanchez seeks judgment for back pay, front pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress and mental anguish, punitive damages for willful misconduct by defendants, attorneys’ fees along with pre- and post-judgment interest. Her legal representation is provided by Hessam Parzivand and Travis Bryan from The Parzivand Law Firm PLLC.
This case is presided over in Harris County's 11th Judicial District Court under Case ID: 2025-24975 with Judge Chandra Lawson overseeing proceedings.