UVA alum included in lawsuit alleging sexual assault and racial harassment at multi-million dollar company

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A University of Virginia alum who is the CEO of a multi-million dollar roofing and building company is one of two individuals accused in a massive lawsuit alleging sexual assault, racial harassment and corporate concealment.

On Dec. 1, 2025, a former employee of PAX Services Group filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UVA alum Michael J. Wade, the CEO of the company, along with Michael A. Gowl Jr., the executive chairman. Several companies are also accused in the suit, including PAX Services Group and the company's private equity owner, New State Capital Partners LLC.

Joseph & Norinsberg filed the suit on behalf of the former employee -- referred to as "Jane Doe" in court documents -- who accused Gowl of using his position of power to "exploit, demean and violate his African subordinate," according to the lawsuit filed.

PAX Services Group has multiple locations across the country, including two in Virginia, located in Norfolk and Manassas.

Court records show Doe shared text receipts between Gowl and his partners that included racist and homophobic jokes. This included the purposeful exclusion a Black employee from a meeting because "he is a n----- and he smells."

When Doe complained to Gowl about the jokes that were said, he told her she was "too serious" and to "lighten up," according to court documents.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Gowl would FaceTime Doe outside of work hours without a shirt on, along with photos of himself in only his underwear to show her "his abs."

In the lawsuit, Doe stated that, on two occasions, Gowl drugged and raped her on what should have been business trips or meetings.

Doe claimed that in January 2024, the first sexual assault occurred in Gowl's hotel bedroom after what was supposed to be a "business meeting" at a restaurant in New York City. After returning from the bathroom, she finished her drink and immediately became dizzy, but blamed it on the alcohol since she did not drink often due to her Muslim religion. Gowl then allegedly led Doe back to his hotel room, where he forcibly kissed her.

According to the lawsuit, the first time Doe was allegedly raped by Gowl was on Feb. 15, 2024, when he drugged her drink and forcibly removed her clothes at his home. He allegedly choked her aggressively and left marks on her neck the morning after, and claimed it made her "quieter and sweeter when half-conscious." After he allegedly raped her, Gowl handed her cash to receive pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease tests since he did not use protection.

After this incident, Doe suffered from nightmares, trauma and severe anxiety -- at one point, causing her to pass out in a café and be rushed to the emergency room, according to court records. Doctors then diagnosed her with stress-related polycythemia and GERD.

After doctors advised her not to return to work, she ignored their advice and returned to the company.

The second time Gowl allegedly raped Doe was during what was supposed to be a PAX business trip to the Bahamas in March 2024. Before the trip, Gowl instructed Doe to bring illegal drugs such as "Molly and hallucinogenic Mushrooms" from his home for the trip, according to the lawsuit. Once in the Bahamas, Gowl took Doe out to dinner for what should have been a business meeting. At dinner, she revealed that she had not brought the drugs in fear that it would affect the approval of her citizenship if caught. Gowl became very upset with her and called her a "p----." According to the lawsuit, he then drugged her at dinner and took her back to his hotel room, where he allegedly raped her again.

According to court documents, Doe said she was afraid to report the sexual assaults because it would be her word against his. She also said she was frightened that Gowl would become angry towards her and was worried that he would ruin her career.

After the trip, Doe began to distance herself from Gowl. According to the lawsuit, he then proceeded to "joke" with her that he would make a "fake bomb report" so that she would be deported.

When Doe finally received her U.S. citizenship, Gowl texted her, "Well, no more threats of deportation," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also stated that when Gowl's now ex-wife filed for divorce, he ordered Doe to "immediately delete all text messages." When she explained that, during litigation, it's a crime if any evidence is destroyed. He said that his attorney, Douglas S. Walker, told him to get rid of his phone and how to hide evidence.

In June 2024, Wade arranged a training meeting between him, Gowl and Doe at a hotel lobby. Wade then said it was "too loud" in the lobby and offered for them to go to a private hotel room. Once in the room, Wade reportedly told Doe, "It's hard to focus with you around." Gowl then proceeded to leave the room, and left her alone with Wade. According to the lawsuit, Wade then allegedly touched Doe's neck in an attempt to massage it and slid his hand down her leg. She left the room and asked Gowl if he was "pimping" her out, which he responded to with a smile.

A few days after the incident, Wade apologized to Doe and said he was trying to make her "more comfortable."

Court documents claim Doe rejected Gowl's "feelings" for her, prompting him to threaten her, saying, "If you try to tell my ex-wife, I will burn the house down," and "I will come after you and end your life."

In September 2024, after Doe received support from her friends and therapist, she reportedly set strict boundaries with Gowl and stated she “wanted to keep their interactions strictly professional.”

According to the lawsuit, Gowl immediately began to exclude her from projects and meetings in return for her rejection of him. Later that month, Gowl invited Doe to a meeting held at his attorney's office where she was fired.

According to court documents, Doe was then asked to sign a severance agreement that would require her to give up all claims against Gowl personally, PAX and all associated companies in exchange for money. Gowl and his attorney tried to pressure her into signing, but Doe refused to sign anything without her own attorney reviewing it first.

In the weeks following her departure from PAX, Doe discovered that a federal law enforcement official named James T. Lewis was approaching her friends, neighbors and godparents. According to the lawsuit, Lewis claimed to be a "federal agent" but was actually a private investigator and an ex-FBI agent.

According to the lawsuit, Lewis interrogated people associated with Doe by spreading lies created to add harm to Doe's name and reputation. This allegedly resulted in her friends growing distant, as well as her godparents cutting contact with her.

Doe also struggled to find a new job after her termination. One job revoked their offer after conducting a background check. They stated they had "received new information," and was "no longer moving forward.”

The lawsuit claims that, in the aftermath of working for Gowl, Doe has been diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and severe major depressive disorder.

In the lawsuit, Doe and her counsel are asking for full compensation for the loss and lasting struggles she has allegedly faced due to PAX, Wade and Gowl.

“Jane Doe survived unimaginable abuse by men who believed they were untouchable,” said Bennitta Joseph of Joseph & Norinsberg in a statement. “This lawsuit exists because our legal system gives survivors the tools to challenge that illusion. It flips the power dynamic on its head and enables her to demand the justice her abusers — with all their wealth and arrogance — never thought she would have the courage to pursue.”

Doe has requested a jury for the trial and is seeking 21 claims for the "compensatory and punitive damages for sexual assault, racial and gender discrimination, retaliation, and emotional distress under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law," according to Doe's lawyer.