On Monday, February 21, 2022, Dorian Vandenberg-Rodes of Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP obtained a $336,000 judgment for our client, Joseline Hernandez, in a sexual harassment and retaliation case. Ms. Hernandez, who is transgender, worked as a cleaner for Preferred Cleaning Services, LLC at the Hilton Americas-Houston. Ms. Hernandez alleged that her shift supervisor groped her and tried to make her to perform oral sex on him when she was working alone on the night shift. She reported the sexual harassment to Chris King, Preferred Cleaning Services' manager over its Houston operations, and was fired a week later.
Defendant Preferred Cleaning Services refused to answer discovery questions and produce their records in the case, even though they were advised and represented throughout the case by counsel. Defendant fought motion after motion and chose to remain in contempt of two orders from the Court. After over a year and a half of Preferred Cleaning Services' obstructive conduct, and after Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP filed three motions for sanctions on behalf of Ms. Hernandez, Judge Scot Dollinger of the 189th District Court of Harris County granted final sanctions in January, struck Preferred Cleaning Services' defenses and then granted final judgment for Ms. Hernandez in a hearing Monday based on Ms. Hernandez' testimony.
Preferred Cleaning Services' behavior, in disregarding the judicial process and apparently believing themselves above Ms. Hernandez' case, displays the company's arrogance and their lack of care and concern for Ms. Hernandez. Fortunately for our client, there is a remedy.