Deborah Miller sued American Family Insurance for retaliation (the US equivalent of victimisation), sex discrimination and age discrimination after being removed from her position.
Deborah Miller was awarded $450,000 in general damages but also further $20m in punitive damages.
Her lawyers asked the jury to send a "message of significance that would capture the attention" of the bosses at American Family.
The jury agreed that Deborah Miller was targeted as part of a corporate effort to replace older workers.
She was placed on a performance improvement plan whilst on medical leave and informed that "this will not end well", despite being an award winning sales manager with performance figures that were better than her younger (and mostly male) peers.
“We do not illegally discriminate in any way, and there was no discrimination in this situation. We are considering our options for appeal”