The (Portland) Oregonian reported Tuesday that Jill Traxler, who worked for the sheriff's office for 18 years, used her medical leave to care for her dying mother.

The jury award, entered Friday, is the largest against the county government in at least two decades, said County Attorney Agnes Sowle.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office maintained that her position was eliminated because of budget cuts, the newspaper reported.

"She would like to get another job," said Daniel Snyder, her lawyer. "Because she's been fired it's been really, really hard for her."