American Family ordered to pay Missouri woman $20 million

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A jury has awarded a Missouri woman $20 million in punitive damages from American Family Insurance, which she claimed discriminated against her.

Deborah Miller, of Blue Springs, sued the company and its former Missouri state director for retaliation, age and sex discrimination. The jury found for her on Friday. It also awarded her $450,000 in actual damages.

A spokesman for the Wisconsin-based insurer said Monday the company disagrees with the verdict and is considering an appeal.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/2gydiVH ) Miller’s attorneys argued that she was targeted by the company while it was trying to let go of older workers and replace them with younger people.

Miller, who is 60, was removed from her manager position during corporate restructuring but remains an American Family agent.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com