A former UNC Asheville employee who was terminated after 22 years with the school and challenged her firing now has a new job at the N.C. Arboretum, as well as back pay, benefits and attorneyís fees.

Cindy Branton Lane was fired from her position as director of printing services last summer amid allegations that she had violated the schoolís anti-nepotism policy by hiring her sister for a two-day printing job.

Laneís lawyer, Paul Bidwell, contested this claim in a legal proceeding, arguing that she had not broken any rules by hiring her sister, a former UNCA employee, to assemble the 2006 commencement programs.

Lane has claimed that the firing was motivated by a desire on the part of the schoolís administration to start outsourcing printing services.

The firing coincided with a public outcry on the part of UNCA faculty and students earlier this year over the termination of several longtime employees.

Lane and UNCA reached a settlement before a ruling in the proceeding. Under the agreement, she is now employed as support services coordinator at the arboretum, which is part of the UNC system.

She will continue to earn the same amount she had at her previous position, about $37,800 per year.

Furthermore, the school will give her benefits and back pay retroactive to her termination.

Lane started working at the arboretum on May 29.