EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A federal jury in East St. Louis has found that a Madison County government office retaliated against an employee for filing a lawsuit claiming she was paid less than a male counterpart. The ruling awards her $100,000 in compensation.

The jury, however, ruled against Mary Parker’s central complaint: that the Madison County Regional Office of Education violated the Equal Pay Act and discriminated against her because of her gender.

Parker had argued that in response to her 2010 lawsuit she was ostracized by fellow employees and was excluded from staff meetings.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/WQirIO ) that Friday’s ruling also means the Granite City woman will be entitled to back pay. She lost her job in 2009.

The attorney for the county could not be reached for comment.

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