A Circuit Court jury has awarded a former barn manager $930,000 after finding that her termination from a Waimanalo horse farm, The Funny Farm Inc., was retaliatory and illegal, her lawyer, David Simon, announced Friday.

Lanikai businesswoman Kimberly W. Dey, owner of The Funny Farm, employed Keri Gall, 39, as barn manager at the farm, 41-723 Kaulukanu St. in Waimanalo, where she had worked for nine years and lived for seven years in a house with her husband and two young children.

Gall claimed a man, who lived in a separate house and worked on the 14-acre property owned by Dey, tried to hug her and kiss her on the lips in February 2008.

Gall reported the alleged sexual harassment to Dey, who terminated her 6 1/2 weeks later, giving her a few hours to vacate the property and remove the family’s possessions and pets.

Five days before the termination, Dey offered Gall a $70,000 severance package if she left voluntarily, which Gall turned down.

The jury awarded Gall $280,000 in lost wages and benefits; $100,000 for emotional distress damages for loss of her job and home; and $550,000 in punitive damages against Dey.

Gall said she was "very happy" with the award.

"I would have loved to let go and move on," she said. "It was something I had to do for my family."

She said the worst part was losing a job she did well. She also was saddened to lose her home, especially the traumatic way it happened, which affected her daughter with night tremors, and the loss of a friendship with Dey, who had been in her wedding party.

Gall now works as a dog walker.

The man, who was called "Uncle" and well-liked by other employees, remains employed by Dey, according to Simon.

Simon said a sexual harassment lawsuit was dropped. Dey’s attorney, Richard Rand, did not return a call to the Star-Advertiser for comment.