Autism researcher gets $217K more in retaliation lawsuit

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A University of Utah autism researcher who accused college administrators of retaliating against her for raising concerns about data privacy has been awarded an additional $217,000 by a federal judge.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday that the judge decided April 25 that Judith Zimmerman will receive a total of about $346,000 stemming from the lawsuit she filed in 2013. A jury previously awarded Zimmerman $119,000 for lost wages and $10,000 in court fees.

Zimmerman was hired by the university in 2005 to run the Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities database. She was fired in 2013 after expressing concerns to administrators about researchers having unauthorized access to patients' information.

University spokeswoman Kathy Wilets says the school is disappointed in the decision and will seek an appeal.

April Hollingsworth, Zimmerman's lawyer, says her client feels vindicated.