ORLANDO – A former Lockheed Martin engineer claims he was discriminated and retaliated against by the defense contractor.
Plaintiff Bahman Roozrokh filed his lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.
Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defense contractor and a pioneer in aerospace technology, best known for building advanced military aircraft.
Roozrokh, a Seminole County resident, was a quality engineer at Lockheed’s Orlando facility, which focuses on designing and manufacturing missile defense systems, tactical missiles, and military training and simulation technologies.
In his 12-page complaint, he alleges Lockheed violated the federal Civil Rights Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act, and makes claims of negligent supervision.
He claims he worked for Lockheed for eight years at the time of his termination, and was known as “hard-working, reliable, and cooperative” and received excellent employment reviews.
“Up until the last several months of his employment, Plaintiff had never received any discipline of any kind and his record was exemplary by all measures,” his filing states.
“This changed abruptly after he complained of a hostile work environment.”
Roozrokh alleges he was discriminated against based on his national origin – he is Iranian – and his perceived religion at the hands of his supervisor, Nathan Boatright.
According to his lawsuit, the hostile work environment claim was investigated by Lockheed’s human resources, which affirmed his allegations. As a result, Boatright was suspended.
“When Mr. Boatright returned from his suspension, he was not happy with Plaintiff because of the complaint he had made,” the lawsuit states.
“However, upon his return from suspension, Mr. Boatright was permitted to remain as the supervisor of Plaintiff, which gave him the opportunity to retaliate against Plaintiff for his earlier complaint against him.”
The retaliation, he alleges, began with “bogus” disciplinary actions.
Roozrokh claims he went to human resources, but that they did nothing and ultimately his employment was terminated.
“Plaintiff was humiliated, embarrassed and shamed that he would be terminated from his job for such reasons, and he has suffered a great deal of mental anguish since and as a result of the hostile work environment and retaliation, all culminating in his termination,” the filing states.
Roozrokh seeks back pay, front pay, reinstatement, punitive damages, costs, and attorney’s fees.
Feiler Leach & Chong of Coral Gables, Florida, is representing him in the lawsuit.
