In a dramatic legal filing, an individual has accused a California-based corporation of a series of serious workplace violations, including retaliation and discrimination. The complaint was filed by Dennis Cozad on May 1, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara against O.C. McDonald Co., Inc., a full-service mechanical contractor.
Dennis Cozad, who worked as a plumber for O.C. McDonald from June 23, 2021, to May 26, 2022, alleges that he faced multiple forms of retaliation and discrimination during his employment. According to the complaint, Cozad was subjected to sexual harassment by Kevin Hallas, a superintendent employed by Sausal Corporation at the John Gill Elementary School construction project site. Hallas allegedly took unsolicited photographs of Cozad and made degrading remarks. Following this incident and after reporting it to his supervisor Fred England, Cozad claims he faced further threats when Hallas pretended to throw a rock at him and his supervisor.
Cozad's complaints did not stop there; he escalated the matter to higher authorities within the company and even sought police intervention due to feeling unsafe at work. Despite these efforts, Cozad alleges that O.C. McDonald failed to take appropriate action and instead retaliated against him by terminating his employment while he was on medical leave for severe anxiety and depression caused by these incidents.
The lawsuit accuses O.C. McDonald of violating several laws under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and California Labor Code sections related to retaliation and discrimination based on disability. It also claims wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Cozad is seeking damages exceeding $1 million for lost wages, emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney fees, and other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Dennis Cozad is Jared R. Sohn from California United Law Group P.C., who filed the case under Case No. 25CV464964 in front of Judge T. Phan.