Paula Deen accuser is singing new tune after legal agreement

[tammywammy]

Paula Deen accuser is singing new tune after legal agreement

-snip-
And it is the statement released on behalf of Lisa Jackson, the plaintiff, that is raising eyebrows.

The statement says that Jackson learned during the course of litigation that Deen was unaware of issues going on in the restaurant where Jackson worked, and goes on to describe Deen as a "woman of compassion and kindness." Here is the statement in full:

"During a very difficult period in my life the Deen family gave me hope and the opportunity to work to build a brighter future for my family and me.

"I assumed that all of my complaints about the workplace environment were getting to Paula Deen, but I learned during this matter that this was not the case. The Paula Deen I have known for more than 8 years, is a woman of compassion and kindness and will never tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind toward anyone.

"I now know that the workplace environment issues that I raised are being reviewed and will in the future no longer be at issue.

"I wish Ms. Deen and her family all the best in all of their future endeavors and I am very pleased that this matter has now been resolved and can now be put behind us."

Jackson was not available to discuss this about-face. The Associated Press reported that a document filed in U.S. District Court in Savannah, Ga., said both sides agreed to drop the lawsuit "without any award of costs or fees to any party."
-snip-

More: http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-paula-deen-accuser-statement-20130823,0,1509652.story

[MotherPetrie]

1. Translation: "I got a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet settlement, and her lawyer wrote this statement for me."

[tammywammy]

4. There's no money changing hands:

Jackson was not available to discuss this about-face. The Associated Press reported that a document filed in U.S. District Court in Savannah, Ga., said both sides agreed to drop the lawsuit "without any award of costs or fees to any party."

[MotherPetrie]

8. Very carefully and specifically worded, that.

[PoliticAverse]

10. "award of costs or fees" is different than any settlement amount.

See this article for a discussion: http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-paula-deen-suit-settlement-20130823,0,2705501.story

[msanthrope]

18. No costs and fees means straight out cash, and Ms. Jackson's attorneys are dropping their claims

for such.

[NOVA_Dem]

14. Looks like the plaintiff leveraged racial discrimination against blacks to get herself a sweet deal.

I'm sure she's going to share with her former co-workers

[MotherPetrie]

20. She also had a sexual harassment case because of the boss watching porn issue.

[leftstreet]

2. 'legal agreement' = 'wad of cash' n/t

[tammywammy]

6. There's no money changing hands:

Jackson was not available to discuss this about-face. The Associated Press reported that a document filed in U.S. District Court in Savannah, Ga., said both sides agreed to drop the lawsuit "without any award of costs or fees to any party."

[jberryhill]

9. You are mistaken

I'm tempted to let someone else explain it to you, because I'm short on time at the moment. If nobody else does, I'll come back later.

[PoliticAverse]

11. This article discusses the issue...

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-paula-deen-suit-settlement-20130823,0,2705501.story

[Supersedeas]

12. thanks for the link

[DirkGently]

13. Settlement payments are not "costs & fees."

That language is boilerplate for a typical settlement in which money DOES change hands. All they're saying is that no one is paying anyone else's lawyer.

[leftstreet]

21. That's nothing to do with it

The order of dismissal with prejudice is unrelated to the settlement agreement

It's true the court didn't award fees to either side, so technically Ms Deen can give the appearance it cost her nothing to make it go away

I seriously doubt the plaintiff walked away empty handed
Seriously

[Paladin]

3. I'll be avoiding Facebook for the foreseeable future because of this.

The Paula Deen Defense League/Daughters of the Confederacy cadre will be out in force, and it won't be pretty......

[msanthrope]

19. It means she paid up. nt

[Supersedeas]

5. amazing, right?

[tammywammy]

7. I found it surprising/interesting. n/t

[monmouth3]

15. Might be afraid of being "blackballed" in the area. If no one will hire you, that's rough...n/t

[global1]

16. And So It Begins......

How soon will it be before we see Deen pop up on TV again? I'll bet it is costing her a pretty penny to undergo a transformation - what with legal settlements (pay-offs) and PR firm consultants to pay - I'm sure that this is going to happen very rapidly. There was just too much money being made off of Deen's name by too many people.

How soon will it be before companies that dumped her begin picking her up again and releasing statements to the fact that the main issue (this case) has been settled and it was just a big misunderstanding?

[truebluegreen]

17. Who cares?