Fairfax, VA – The Circuit Court of Fairfax County has issued a scheduling order in the highly anticipated case of Osman v. Carmen Campos, Noah Howerton, Crystal Wheeler, Amber Kodish, Rose Sommovigo, Scott Forbes, KG&P Strategies, evolve24, et al. (Case No. CL-2024-0000352), with a jury trial set for July 28, 2025. This case involves significant allegations of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation (gay) and Afghan heritage, with Osman accusing several defendants of fostering a hostile work environment.
While the court dismissed the individual claims against Carmen Campos, Noah Howerton, Crystal Wheeler, Amber Kodish, Rose Sommovigo, and Scott Forbes due to the fact that the Virginia Human Rights Act does not allow for individual liability in workplace discrimination cases, this dismissal was based purely on legal technicalities, not the merits of the allegations. Additionally, the portion of the case involving Afghan discrimination was dismissed for technical reasons.
The claims of gay discrimination against KG&P Strategies, the parent company of evolve24 dba Sherpa LLC, remain in full force and are proceeding despite attempts by the defendants to dismiss the case both companies must now defend themselves in court against serious accusations of creating a discriminatory workplace culture.
Efforts to connect MVM Inc., KACE Company, and The Providencia Group—all affiliated with KG&P Strategies—to the case through a "substantial identity" argument were also unsuccessful. Despite their corporate ties to KG&P Strategies, these entities are not held liable in this instance. The focus remains squarely on KG&P Strategies and evolve24 as the primary defendants in this workplace discrimination case.
Key witnesses identified in the case include executives Kevin Marquez (CEO of KG&P Strategies and MVM Inc.), Maria Campos (COO of KG&P Strategies and President of The Providencia Group), and Crystal Wheeler (Chief People Officer of KG&P Strategies). Their leadership roles during the period of Osman's employment and the alleged discrimination are expected to come under scrutiny during the trial. Amber Kodish (CEO of evolve24) previously reported to Kevin Marquez and Maria Campos and left evolve24 shortly after Osman’s alleged wrongful termination. Following her departure, Tamera Montagna was appointed as the new CEO of evolve24. The reasons behind these abrupt changes in leadership are anticipated to be explored during the discovery phase of the trial.
Further intensifying the case, Crystal Wheeler was present in the meeting with Amber Kodish where Osman alleges his wrongful termination occurred under a pretext of gay discrimination. Crystal Wheeler’s role as Chief People Officer makes her central to HR decision-making processes at KG&P Strategies, raising questions about the ethics and legality of Osman's termination. The court is expected to delve into why Amber Kodish and Rose Sommovigo, both named as key figures involved in the alleged workplace discrimination, separated from evolve24 shortly after Osman’s termination. This timing raises serious concerns that will likely be addressed in court.
Despite the dismissal of the Afghan discrimination portion of the case due to legal technicalities, the core of the gay discrimination case continues, signaling that the claims of Osman will be heard in full in front of a jury.
The trial is set to begin on July 28, 2025, with all discovery expected to conclude by June 28, 2025. Dispositive motions must be filed by May 28, 2025. The scheduling order, which outlines the procedural roadmap leading up to the trial, was signed by a judge and reinforces the court's commitment to a thorough examination of the facts.
With defendants’ efforts to evade responsibility on legal grounds failing, the court is now set to hear the full extent of Osman's claims of workplace discrimination, which have reverberated throughout the industry.
