The attorney's name was misspelled in the original version of this story. The error has been corrected in this version.

WENATCHEE — The Chelan County PUD has agreed to pay a former park employee $10,000 to settle her claim that it refused to rehire her for seasonal work because she is a woman.

Elsie Nicole Johnson sued the PUD in April 2012. Her suit was later transferred to federal court in Spokane. She claimed that:

• PUD officials unlawfully refused to rehire her for seasonal work in 2011 because she was a woman, even though she had performed well the four previous seasons and had received a promotion.
• The PUD violated its own policy by firing her without just cause and due process.

The PUD has denied wrongdoing. Both sides agree that the settlement is not an admission that the PUD violated the law or its own policies.

The settlement includes just over $3,400 in fees for Johnson’s East Wenatchee attorney Scott Kane.

Both sides signed the settlement agreement Dec. 17. The case was dismissed in federal court Jan. 14.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com