A Bethel Park woman was awarded $1.8 million by a jury in federal court today for pregnancy discrimination.

Carole Smith, 36, filed a lawsuit against her employer, Normandy Properties LLC, in March 2007, claiming that the company illegally fired her while she was on maternity leave. She had worked for the company for more than three years and was employed as a property manager.

Ms. Smith gave birth to her son, Tommy, on Nov. 8, 2005, by Caesarean section. Born with collapsed lungs and pneumonia, he stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for two weeks. He left the hospital on Nov. 21.

Ms. Smith planned to take six weeks off -- the amount of time recommended by her physician -- but in the third week, the company fired her.

The jury of seven women and one man deliberated about 2 1/2 hours and awarded $600,000 for compensatory damages and $1.2 million in punitive damages.

After filing her lawsuit, the company rehired Ms. Smith, and she now works as a leasing agent. She took a week's vacation to be able to attend the trial.