A Pennsylvania nursing home lost a discrimination suit and was ordered to rehire the woman it fired last May and pay the former employee nearly $2,000 in back wages. The City of York Human Relations Commission upheld her claim that she was fired because she was black.

Autumn House West hired Angela Phinn in May 2002 as a resident assistant and paid her $7.75 per hour. The commission based its ruling on Phinn’s testimony; the Autumn House did not present witnesses at the hearing.

Autumn House also was ordered to pay a $500 fine. No civil damages were awarded, however, because the commission found no evidence that Phinn suffered from any humiliation or embarrassment, according to the ruling.