St. Cloud Woman Wins Marital Discrimination Case

ST. CLOUD (AP) - State officials say a St. Cloud auto parts company has paid $50,000 to a former employee who claimed her firing amounted to marriage discrimination.

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights says Auto Value Parts terminated JoDee Goblirsch when her husband went to work for a competitor.

Parent company, Automotive Parts, says Goblirsch's continued employment was a conflict-of-interest because she had access to privileged information. She was a bookkeeper at the company's store in Willmar when her husband decided to take a job with Napa Auto Parts.

Goblirsch filed a complaint with the state, which found the company discriminated against her on the basis of her marital status. Automotive Parts spokesman Aaron Fisk says the company "does not promote discrimination or harassment."