A former trainee at a state agency in Grants Pass was not discriminated against because she originally comes from Mexico, a federal jury in Medford ruled on Friday.

Aurora Duran was not mistreated by co-workers at the Oregon Department of Adult and Family Services, said Pat Urquhart, an assistant attorney general who represented the state in the case.

"This unanimous verdict reflects the truth of the matter that Ms. Duran was not subjected to Hispanic discrimination," Urquhart said.

Jim Fong, district manager for Adult and Family Services in Medford, said he was relieved by the verdict.

"I'm very pleased that the truth has prevailed and the staff has been exonerated," Fong said.

Duran had filed a $1.45 million lawsuit against the state alleging discrimination while working as a trainee at the Grants Pass office in 1995. She quit the job in early 1996.

She also alleged that she was discriminated against when she applied for three available positions and was turned down for each one.

Duran alleged that co-workers conspired to keep her from getting a full-time position and mocked her Mexican accent by screaming in her face, "What? What? What?"

The case began on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Medford before an eight-person jury.

Urquhart told jurors that Jean Peters, a former employee at the state office, misled Duran about the feelings of co-workers.

During the case, Urquhart called 27 witnesses, including workers at the Grants Pass office.

She also brought in two psychiatrists and a counselor who testified that Duran had emotional problems that may have made her susceptible to the suggestions of Peters.

David Longood, a Eugene lawyer who represented Duran, asked two witnesses to take the stand -- Peters and his client.

The lawyers gave closing arguments Friday morning, and the jurors deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes before returning the verdict.

Eva Mason, the affirmative action officer with the office, said Duran's discrimination claim had been rejected by the department and by the state Bureau of Labor and Industries before she filed her lawsuit.