BOYNTON BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The City of Boynton Beach Friday announced it prevailed in U.S. District in a lawsuit filed against the municipality by Boynton’s former Human Resources Director. We are publishing the statement in its entirety:
“The City of Boynton Beach has prevailed in federal court in the lawsuit filed by former Human Resources Director Tennille DeCoste. On January 29, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida granted summary judgment in favor of the City and dismissed all remaining claims brought by Ms. DeCoste, who alleged race discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act.
In its ruling, the Court found that Ms. DeCoste failed to present sufficient evidence to support any of her claims, concluding that her termination resulted from the findings of a rigorous independent investigation conducted by outside counsel. That investigation substantiated six violations of City policy, including misuse of City resources for her personal political campaign, improper engagement with labor representatives while serving as the City’s chief labor negotiator, and interference with the investigation itself. The investigator concluded that Ms. DeCoste had “exceedingly failed to meet expectations for her role.”
The Court rejected each of Ms. DeCoste’s theories of discrimination and retaliation, finding that the timeline of events reflected “a logical connection between her misconduct and the timing of the investigation and her termination” rather than any discriminatory or retaliatory motive.
The federal court’s ruling follows separate proceedings before the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics (COE). Following a negotiated settlement in December 2025, the COE issued Ms. DeCoste a formal Letter of Reprimand after finding probable cause that she violated provisions of the Palm Beach County Code of Ethics. Among its findings, the COE concluded that Ms. DeCoste misused her City purchasing card for unauthorized expenditures, for which the City did not receive reimbursement, and violated the Code’s noninterference provision by attempting, along with the former Mayor, to pressure the City Manager to withdraw complaints he had filed with the COE and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The COE further noted that subsequent complaints filed by Ms. DeCoste were not sustained by either the COE or the OIG.
The City has been notified that Ms. DeCoste has filed a notice of appeal of the federal court ruling. The City is confident in its legal position and will vigorously defend the judgment on appeal.
The City of Boynton Beach is committed to transparency, ethical governance, and accountability at all levels of municipal operations. The City initiated an independent investigation into policy violations and acted in accordance with its findings. The federal court’s ruling affirms that those actions were lawful and appropriate. The City will continue to defend its position in the appellate process and remains focused on serving the residents of Boynton Beach with integrity and professionalism.”
