JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The head of the Missouri Veterans Commission has been placed on paid leave after jurors awarded nearly $3 million in damages to a former employee who claimed discrimination and harassment over her dismissal.

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports that the commission is offering no details on executive director Larry Kay’s status. Commission spokesman Daniel Bell described the situation Wednesday as a personnel matter. Bell said that Deputy Director Bryan Hunt is the acting executive director until further notice.

Last week, jurors awarded Pat Rowe Kerr $1.3 million in actual damages and $1.6 million in punitive damages. Kerr’s attorneys argued that she was dismissed because Kay has a problem with older, successful women.

Kay and the commission had said her dismissal was due to budget cuts at the time.