Washburn Discrimination Lawsuit Settlement

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Documents have revealed that Washburn University in Topeka paid $45,000 to settle a federal discrimination lawsuit involving its dean of libraries.

Michelle Canipe, a former instructional librarian at Washburn, sued the university and Alan Bearman in May 2013, claiming the dean bullied, harassed or sexually discriminated against Canipe.

The lawsuit also claimed that Bearman and the school created or tolerated a sexually hostile environment and retaliated against Canipe for complaining about unequal treatment.

Federal court records show a U.S. district judge terminated the case in March 2014, indicating the parties had reached an agreement.

The university provided the newspaper with a copy of the settlement Tuesday showing that Canipe received $27,000 and her attorneys received $9,000.

Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal,