In a compelling legal battle, a former employee has taken on a corporate giant, alleging discrimination and wrongful termination. Joseph Rostam filed a complaint against Lockheed Martin Corporation in the Superior Court of Santa Clara, California, on March 18, 2025. The lawsuit accuses Lockheed Martin of targeting Rostam due to his Iranian heritage and retaliating against him for reporting cybersecurity failures.
Joseph Rostam, who served in the U.S. military with a top-secret security clearance, claims that Lockheed Martin subjected him to unnecessary security clearance reinvestigations because of his national origin. This led to his wrongful termination after he reported critical cybersecurity issues. According to the complaint, these actions violated multiple laws including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the California Labor Code. "Despite my impeccable credentials and unwavering commitment to national security," Rostam states in his filing, "Lockheed Martin chose to unjustly target me because of my Iranian heritage." He further alleges that his reports about software failures compromising national security were ignored by management.
Rostam's lawsuit outlines several causes of action: national origin discrimination under FEHA, retaliation under FEHA for reporting discriminatory practices, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, whistleblower retaliation under California Labor Code § 1102.5, failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation under FEHA, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and disparate impact discrimination under FEHA. Each count details how Lockheed Martin's actions have caused significant harm to Rostam's career and well-being. The complaint seeks various forms of relief from the court including compensatory damages exceeding $10 million for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages. Additionally, it requests an injunction preventing Lockheed Martin from continuing its alleged discriminatory practices.
The case is being handled by attorney James Dal Bon from Wisdom Law Group APC on behalf of Joseph Rostam. It is filed under Case No: 25CV461328 in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. As this legal drama unfolds, it will be up to the court to determine whether justice will be served for Joseph Rostam.