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Somerville To Pay Marine Corps Reservist $15K Over Employment Rights

SOMERVILLE, Mass. (AP) — The city of Somerville has agreed to pay more than $15,000 in back pay for allegations it violated a Marine Corps reservist's employment rights.

The Justice Department announced the settlement Wednesday. It's subject to court approval.

The suit alleges the city violated firefighter Sean Keane's rights when it denied his request to make his promotion retroactive.

Keane took a lieutenant's makeup exam upon returning from deployment in September 2013. His high test score placed him ahead of two firefighters who'd been promoted in July 2013.

Keane requested in October 2014 that his promotion be effective July 2013. The city of Somerville denied his request.

Federal law requires that service members who leave civilian jobs for military service be re-employed in the positions they would've held had they not been deployed.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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