Texarkana, Texas – Joshua A. Snow, a 19‑year veteran welder from Queen City, has taken legal action against local manufacturer Ledwell & Son Enterprises, alleging that the company terminated his employment in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Texas Labor Code.
Background of the dispute
According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Snow suffered a neck injury on August 25, 2023 while performing his welding duties. His physician placed him on work‑restriction orders, which the company documented. Snow was reassigned to light‑duty work in the machine shop on October 10, 2023, handling pneumatics and wiring.
In February 2024, Snow was asked to supervise a crew building a special container roll‑off trailer. He underwent cervical disc replacement surgery on May 6, 2025. After the operation, Snow and the plant manager reached a verbal understanding that he would no longer be required to weld. The company reportedly kept him in a non‑welding role for the next seventeen months.
Alleged termination
Snow says he was later moved to the graphics department while still overseeing the hydraulic hose area. He remained there until October 2025, when Ledwell allegedly ordered him back to the welding floor on October 14, 2025. At that point, Snow’s surgeon again restricted him from welding, noting “No welding” in a medical note delivered to human resources on October 22, 2025.
The complaint asserts that the company offered no alternative assignment, despite having light‑duty options available for more than two years in a workforce of over 600 employees. Snow was told, “he was hired as a welder and that the only work we had was for a welder,” and that his prior duties were “temporary and not a permanent position.” He asked, “So am I being fired?” and was told he was being let go because he could not perform welding duties.
Legal filings and response
Snow filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on January 20, alleging violations of the ADA and Texas labor law. The EEOC notified him of his right to sue on July 21. Ledwell answered the charge on March 17, apparently admitting to the termination, but has not filed a formal response to the lawsuit as of the latest court records.
The suit seeks a jury trial and requests back pay, lost benefits, reinstatement or front‑pay, and removal of the “ineligible for rehire” designation from his employment file.
Community impact
This case highlights the challenges faced by workers with legitimate medical restrictions in a region where manufacturing remains a key employer. While the company has not publicly commented, the lawsuit underscores the importance of employers accommodating disabled employees in accordance with federal law.
Snow is represented by William S. Hommel Jr. of Hommel Law Firm in Tyler, Texas. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how Texarkana businesses handle disability accommodations moving forward.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
