ST. CLOUD — State officials say a St. Cloud auto parts company has paid $50,000 to a former employee who claimed her firing amounted to marriage discrimination.

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights said Auto Value Parts terminated JoDee Goblirsch when her husband went to work for a competitor.

Parent company, Automotive Parts, says Goblirsch’s continued employment was a conflict-of-interest because she had access to privileged information. She was a bookkeeper at the company’s store in Willmar when her husband decided to take a job with Napa Auto Parts.

Goblirsch filed a complaint with the state, which found the company discriminated against her on the basis of her marital status.