A judge has approved more than $1.5 million in damages against the county in the case of a former Dona Ana County internal affairs investigator who says she was wrongfully terminated.
The judge signed off on the award Wednesday. Kim Stewart was awarded in July after a jury determined county officials violated her rights under New Mexico's Human Rights Act and Whistleblower Protection Act.
Stewart was fired in 2010. She claims she was dismissed in retaliation, because she had conducted an investigation into Curtis Childress, who was accused of discrimination against Hispanic and African-American county employees.
The county's attorney didn't return a request seeking comment.
Although she was allowed to return to her county position, Stewart's attorney says his client has decided not to.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
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