James Harden’s former Houston restaurant is back in legal trouble, and the newest twist comes from inside the kitchen. Victor “Sidd” Cadena, a former head chef at Thirteen by James Harden, has sued the restaurant’s parent company over alleged unpaid overtime and sewage cleanup claims.
Cadena’s lawsuit targets 13 Strikes LLC, the company behind the now-closed Midtown dining spot tied to the former Houston Rockets star. The chef claims he worked extreme hours, cleaned raw sewage, and later suffered a chronic rash, according to the Houston Chronicle chef report.
Chef Says Overtime Went Unpaid
Cadena alleges he worked more than 70 hours a week while serving as head chef at Thirteen. His lawsuit claims the restaurant did not pay him proper overtime.
The complaint says Cadena joined during an attempted restaurant refresh. Thirteen opened in 2021, after Harden’s high-profile Rockets exit and trade to Brooklyn.
The restaurant carried Harden’s No. 13 brand and aimed for an upscale Houston crowd. It later added a redesigned menu and updated concept.
Cadena’s lawsuit now casts that attempted comeback in a darker business light. He is seeking up to $1 million in damages, according to reports.
The restaurant has denied the pay-related claims in court filings. It reportedly argued that Cadena failed to properly record or report his hours.
Sewage Allegations Hit Restaurant
The most damaging claim centers on the restaurant’s plumbing.
Cadena alleges raw sewage and fecal matter flooded the business at least five times. His lawsuit says professional cleaners handled only two of those incidents.
For the other backups, Cadena claims he was told to clean the mess himself. He alleges the exposure caused a severe rash and permanent scarring.
Those claims remain allegations. They have not been proven in court.
The restaurant’s response denied several claims, including overtime allegations. According to the Chronicle, the filing did not directly address every detail of the sewage cleanup.
Blender Dispute Added to Lawsuit
Cadena’s filing also includes a claim over a missing blender.
He alleges that the restaurant blamed him for a $2,000 blender and pressured him to repay the amount. The restaurant’s side reportedly said any payment was voluntary.
The lawsuit also claims that Cadena became the point of contact for vendors and creditors. He alleges that people seeking payment called him at night.
That detail adds another layer to the workplace dispute. Cadena is not only alleging wage issues. He is claiming the restaurant’s financial problems reached him directly.
The case was later moved to federal court. Federal labor-law claims appear to be part of the reason.
Thirteen Was Locked Out
The chef lawsuit follows a separate rent dispute that already put Thirteen’s future in doubt.
In September, the restaurant’s doors were locked after a notice claimed the business owed more than $2.2 million in rent and expenses. KPRC reported that the restaurant doors at the Midtown location were locked.
The restaurant operated at 1911 Bagby Street, near Houston’s busy Midtown dining corridor. The lockout turned the celebrity-backed restaurant into a public business controversy.
Midtown Scouts Square Property sued Harden, Thirteens Hospitality Group, and 13 Strikes LLC. The landlord alleged unpaid rent and other violations.
Harden later countersued the property owner. His side has disputed parts of the landlord’s case.
Harden Deposition Fight Followed
The rent dispute later pulled Harden deeper into court scheduling issues.
Chron reported that Harden sought to delay depositions tied to the unpaid-rent case while he was playing in the NBA playoffs. The report said the request for a deposition delay also involved his mother, Monja Willis.
Willis was later added to the rent lawsuit, according to reports. Harden’s legal team objected to deposition plans and raised concerns about timing and location.
The restaurant’s legal troubles now run across multiple claims. They include the chef lawsuit, the rent dispute, and earlier legal fallout tied to a lawsuit over a deadly crash.
Wrongful Death Case Added Pressure
Thirteen was also named in a wrongful-death lawsuit connected to a deadly 2023 crash in Houston.
ABC News reported that the restaurant was named in wrongful death claims after a crash that killed six people and the alleged drunk driver.
The lawsuit alleged the restaurant overserved the driver before the crash. Some later reports said claims against Harden were reportedly dropped after evidence emerged that the driver may not have visited Thirteen.
The case still drew public attention around the restaurant. It also tied the business to a serious legal file before the latest chef lawsuit emerged.
Houston Brand Takes Another Hit
Thirteen was built around Harden’s Houston legacy.
Harden played for the Rockets from 2012 to 2021. He won the NBA MVP award in 2018 and became one of the city’s biggest sports names.
His restaurant was supposed to extend that brand into Houston’s nightlife and dining scene. Instead, the closed business now faces allegations involving unpaid rent, unpaid overtime, sewage cleanup, and creditor pressure.
Harden has not publicly confirmed any new statement on Cadena’s lawsuit. Cadena’s lawsuit remains active after moving to federal court. The restaurant denies key pay claims.
Thirteen remains closed after the September lockout. The rent dispute involving Harden and the property owner is also still active.
For Houston readers, the story has moved far beyond the closure of a celebrity restaurant. It is now a legal fight over how the business operated before the doors shut.
