A former executive assistant who left the Texas Attorney General’s Office to help defend Attorney General Ken Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial has filed a sweeping lawsuit against the private law firm formed to lead that defense—alleging months of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and unpaid wages at the hands of her former bosses, attorneys Judd Stone and Christopher Hilton.
Jordan Eskew, who previously worked under Stone and Hilton in the Attorney General’s Office, claims she was recruited by the duo in May 2023 to join their newly created law firm, Stone Hilton PLLC, for the express purpose of assisting in Paxton’s defense. According to the lawsuit, Eskew agreed to leave her government post temporarily to help mount the defense alongside several other AG lawyers who took leaves of absence.
A Toxic Workplace Culture Alleged
What followed, she alleges, was a toxic work environment rife with sexualized comments, emotional abuse, excessive alcohol consumption in the workplace, and retaliation when she resisted or questioned her treatment.
The complaint paints a picture of a firm that touted its labor and employment law expertise while allegedly ignoring basic workplace protections. Eskew claims Stone and Hilton implemented no policies on sexual harassment or discrimination, provided no employee training, and created an atmosphere where slurs, lewd comments, and verbal degradation were normalized.
Barroom Remark Becomes Centerpiece of Legal Case
Among the most explosive claims is an incident at a bar in June 2023. Eskew says that during a lunch outing with Stone, Hilton, and a female colleague, Stone made a sexually charged remark after Eskew declined a shot of liquor. When she said the drink was “the most disgusting thing” she had ever tasted, Stone allegedly replied, “I highly doubt that is the most disgusting thing that has ever been in your mouth.” Hilton, she says, responded with a wince and an uncomfortable laugh but took no further action.
State Agency Finds Legal Violations
The Texas Workforce Commission has since investigated and substantiated key elements of Eskew’s claim, concluding that Stone Hilton PLLC violated the Texas Labor Code by subjecting her to unlawful sexual harassment. According to the TWC, a “prima facie case of sexual harassment has been established,” based on not only the incident at the bar, but additional evidence from an internal investigation conducted by leadership at the AG’s Office.
Disturbing Allegations of Violent Sexual Remarks
The lawsuit alleges that in one particularly disturbing example, Stone described to colleagues a violent sexual fantasy involving another male AG official being raped in front of his children. That official, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster, later documented the alleged comments in an internal email, stating he feared for his safety and considered Stone “a deeply unhinged obsessive human being who is one missed [redacted] or bad day away from murder.”
Verbal Abuse and Humiliation Described
The lawsuit also details multiple examples of verbal abuse. In one incident, Eskew says she was screamed at over a late BBQ lunch order and then subjected to a group berating session during which Hilton allegedly asked her, “Do you think you can make yourself cry before you walk out?” On another occasion, she says she was called “white trash” for wearing turquoise earrings.
Despite the firm’s expertise in employment law, Eskew claims she was never given a mechanism to report harassment—particularly difficult, she argues, because her harassers were the firm’s owners. The TWC noted the absence of internal protections in its findings, stating that the firm failed to take reasonable steps to prevent or correct harassment, making it vicariously liable.
Wage Theft and Unpaid Expenses Alleged
Eskew further alleges that she was shorted $20,000 in promised wages and never reimbursed more than $4,500 in work-related expenses. Her employment ended when she and other staff members returned to the AG’s Office following Paxton’s acquittal. Once back, she and another attorney, Amy Hilton (no relation to Christopher Hilton), reported the misconduct to Webster.
AG’s Office Responds — And Demands Resignations
Both women’s allegations were deemed credible by the AG’s Office, and Stone is said to have admitted to them in full. Hilton reportedly did not dispute them. The office offered Stone and Hilton the opportunity to resign rather than be fired. Both resigned in October 2023.
Allegations of Past Misconduct Resurface
According to the lawsuit, this was not the first time Stone had faced allegations of inappropriate conduct. Eskew’s suit claims he was previously forced to leave his position with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz over similar sexual harassment complaints.
After resigning from the AG’s Office, Stone and Hilton returned to their private practice at Stone Hilton PLLC, which continues to operate.
Settlement Agreements and Non-Disparagement Clauses
The suit also notes that several of Eskew’s former colleagues, including Amy Hilton, Joe Mazzara, Allison Collins, and Kateland “Katie” Jackson, appear to have signed non-disparagement agreements after reaching settlements with Stone Hilton PLLC. Eskew says she refused to sign a similar statement offered to her by the firm that would have praised the professionalism and integrity of her former colleagues.
Firm Admits to Key Comment, Denies Its Meaning
Despite denials that the conduct was sexual in nature, Stone Hilton PLLC admitted to the Texas Workforce Commission that Stone made the disputed “disgusting thing” comment. The TWC concluded that a reasonable person would perceive the comment as sexual and that it contributed to a hostile work environment.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
Eskew now seeks damages for sexual harassment, unpaid wages, emotional distress, and other employment-related claims. The lawsuit contends that, far from being a firm that handles “bet-the-company” cases with “vast experience in labor and employment law,” Stone Hilton PLLC failed even the most basic standards for workplace conduct.
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