Oklahoma City - The state paid $200,000 to settle a federal lawsuit in which a former Labor Department employee claimed she was
forced to quit because she supported Republicans.

Attorneys for Democratic State Labor Commissioner Fields and Laurie Allen, a former department asbestos official, said in May
that the settlement included a confidentiality agreement. The Oklahoman found the payment, in a check dated May 15, during a
review of state financial data.

Attorneys for both sides declined comment on Thursday.

Allen's suit claimed she was demoted, told to transfer from Oklahoma City to Tulsa and then informed her position was being
eliminated before she decided to quit in October 2007.

Allen believed she was targeted because she supported former Republican Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau, who Fields defeated in
the 2006 election. Fields denied any wrongdoing.
     
    

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