SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - A 60-year-old Shawano woman has been awarded $32,500, after her ex-employer settled a federal lawsuit for age discrimination.

Sharon Passon was fired in 2010 from her job as a billing specialist at Computer Systems of Shawano, where she had worked for 38 years.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the firm kept a 34-year-old employee who was less qualified than Passon.

The company was sold six months after Passon was let go, and the government said the new owner has no obligations in the case.