A former employee has taken legal action against a major corporation, alleging unlawful termination and discrimination based on sex. Anthony Bocca filed a complaint against Bechtel National, Inc. in the Circuit Court for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on April 25, 2025.
Anthony Bocca, who had been employed by Bechtel National since May 1993, was terminated on April 29, 2024. In his complaint, Bocca claims that his dismissal was rooted in sex-based discrimination and retaliation after he opposed what he perceived as discriminatory practices. He alleges that his termination followed complaints from female employees who accused him of harassment and bullying. However, Bocca maintains that these allegations were unfounded and stemmed from his efforts to enforce safety protocols on the construction site. "Defendant fabricated a pretextual sex-based complaint in order to terminate plaintiff," the complaint states.
Bocca's troubles began when he conducted performance reviews for his team members in February 2024. One of the employees, Aarti Shah, expressed dissatisfaction with her rating despite receiving a merit raise and bonus. Following this incident, Bocca faced several complaints from female colleagues accusing him of inappropriate behavior. One such incident involved a confrontation with an administrative personnel driving unsafely on-site while using her phone—a violation of company policy—which led to further accusations against him.
Despite having received an "outstanding" performance review earlier that year and being recognized for his leadership skills with a $20k bonus and merit raise, Bocca was terminated without being given adequate opportunity to defend himself against these allegations. He contends that Bechtel's actions were retaliatory because he challenged the validity of the complaints and sought to uphold safety standards.
In seeking justice through the court system, Bocca is requesting back pay with interest, compensation for mental anguish and personal suffering, reinstatement or front pay if reinstatement is not feasible, as well as coverage of legal fees. Additionally, he seeks punitive damages due to what he describes as willful violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) by Bechtel National.
Representing Anthony Bocca is attorney Daniel H. Hunt from Miami Shark law firm. The Case ID is: 502025CA004007XXXAMB Div: AH.