Silfab Solar is asking a York County judge for permission to add a counterclaim against a former quality control technician who sued the company last year, alleging he lied about his work history and secretly coordinated with opposition groups and the media against the company.
Jason Rhoades sued Silfab and its subsidiary in July 2025, claiming he was fired in retaliation for reporting safety and occupancy violations at the company's Fort Mill manufacturing facility.
In a motion filed Friday, Silfab's attorneys said discovery turned up records showing Rhoades was terminated for cause from both of his two previous employers, IPEX and Circle K, before Silfab hired him, and that he told Silfab during his interview he had been laid off.
According to the filing, IPEX's investigation found Rhoades had made an offensive joke referencing a racial slur in the workplace, repeated it after co-workers objected, and was terminated for violating the company's workplace conduct policy. Circle K, the filing states, terminated Rhoades for a separate policy violation and for refusing to cooperate with an internal investigation.
Silfab argues that had it known about Rhoades' employment history, it would not have hired him, and is seeking to add an "after-acquired evidence" defense, a legal doctrine that can limit damages available to a fired employee if the employer later discovers wrongdoing that would have independently justified termination.
The filing also seeks to add a counterclaim...
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