In a striking case of alleged workplace discrimination and retaliation, a former employee claims that his termination was linked to his wife’s pregnancy and subsequent legal actions against their mutual employer. Moises Arriaga filed a complaint on November 23, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, accusing BH Management Services, LLC of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The lawsuit unfolds with Arriaga detailing his employment journey with BH Management Services as a leasing agent at Old Farm Apartment Homes in Houston, Texas. His wife, Ashley Ortiz, also worked for the same company but at a different location. Trouble began when Ortiz was terminated under contested circumstances during her third trimester of pregnancy on April 3, 2024. This prompted Ortiz to file an EEOC Charge of Discrimination against the company alleging pregnancy discrimination and retaliation.
Arriaga asserts that following his wife’s dismissal, he became the target of unwarranted disciplinary actions orchestrated by his supervisor Jakelin Jaimez. These actions included verbal and written warnings based on dubious evidence provided by Moe Shariff, a security guard allegedly spying on him due to personal ties with Jaimez. Despite these challenges, Arriaga’s performance had previously been strong and unblemished.
The situation escalated when Arriaga was laid off on May 21, 2024, purportedly due to business reasons—a claim he found suspicious given his workload remained unchanged and no other employees were dismissed. Adding to this suspicion was the fact that shortly after Ortiz filed her EEOC charge in October 2024, Arriaga’s attempts to secure another position within the company were thwarted when he was suddenly deemed ineligible for rehire without prior notice or justification.
Arriaga’s complaint accuses BH Management Services of associational discrimination and third-party retaliation under Title VII. He argues that his association with Ortiz—a member of a protected class due to her pregnancy—was the basis for discriminatory treatment leading to his unjust termination and subsequent blacklisting from future employment opportunities within the company.
Seeking justice through the court system, Arriaga is asking for various forms of relief including back pay for lost wages and benefits, reinstatement or front pay if reinstatement is not feasible, compensatory damages for emotional distress and punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by the defendant. Additionally, he seeks coverage for attorney’s fees and other legal costs incurred during this litigation process.
Representing Moises Arriaga is attorney Ahad Khan from Houston-based law firm Ahad Khan Law Firm PLLC. The case has been assigned Civil Action No. 4:25-cv-5640 under the jurisdiction of judges from the Southern District Court of Texas.
Source: 425cv5640_Moises_Arriaga_v_BH_Management_Complaint_Southern_District_of_Texas.pdf
