Willmar woman wins marital discrimination case against Auto Value Parts

By Kelly Boldan

May 10, 2013 at 6:28 AM

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (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 tells the Star Tribune ( http://bit.ly/ZSNZOa ) the company "does not promote discrimination or harassment."

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

By Kelly Boldan

Kelly Boldan has been editor of West Central Tribune and Wctrib.com in Willmar, Minnesota, since October 2001. He joined Forum Communications Co. in November 1998 as editor of the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer.
Boldan can be reached via email: editor@wctrib.com or telephone: 320-214-4331.

Willmar woman wins marital discrimination case against Auto Value Parts

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (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.