HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A former United Technologies Corp. employee is suing the aerospace conglomerate over its tuition program that financed graduate school but laid him off before he could receive company stock included in the program.

Richard A. Grisafi, of Woodcliff Lake, N.J., sued the Hartford, Conn., company on Friday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey. The 31-year-old Grisafi earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering while working at United Technologies’ fire and security division.