State: Massachusetts Woman Due $1M in Discrimination Case

A former employee of a Cape Cod country club who said she was laid off because of her age has been awarded nearly $1 million by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

The commission said 64-year-old Virginia DiIorio was one of 13 employees let go by the Willowbend Country Club in October 2005.

Club officials claim she was let go because of her high salary and because she spent her winters out-of-state.

But in its decision in DiIorio’s favor, the state commission cited a statement by Willowbend general manager David Wood that the club wanted to “bring in some younger blood.”

DiIorio’s lawyer tells the Cape Cod Times that justice was served.

A spokesman for the country club says the commission was “dead wrong” and it will appeal.