The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

UI reaches settlement with Griesbaum, Meyer

Jane+Meyer%2C+former+senior+associate+athletic+director+at+the+University+of+Iowa%2C+gets+a+hug+from+her+partner+Tracey+Griesbaum%2C+right%2C+following+a+news+conference%2C+Thursday%2C+May+4%2C+2017%2C+in+Des+Moines%2C+Iowa.+A+jury+on+Thursday+awarded+more+than+%241.4+million+to+Meyer+ruling+that+the+university+had+discriminated+against+her+because+of+her+gender+and+sexual+orientation.+%28AP+Photo%2FCharlie+Neibergall%29
AP
Jane Meyer, former senior associate athletic director at the University of Iowa, gets a hug from her partner Tracey Griesbaum, right, following a news conference, Thursday, May 4, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. A jury on Thursday awarded more than $1.4 million to Meyer ruling that the university had discriminated against her because of her gender and sexual orientation. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The University of Iowa has reached a settlement agreement with former field-hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum.

The UI Athletics Department will fund a nearly $1.5 million settlement for Griesbaum — $300,000 for wages and $1,187,588.98 for emotional distress damages, according to documents on the state Board of Regents website. The department will also pay for attorney fees, totaling $1,062,411.02, the documents said.

Griesbaum filed a suit against the UI for gender discrimination, alleging that the Athletics Department pushed seven female employees out of the department, including Griesbaum and her partner Jane Meyer, the former senior associate athletics director, as previously reported by The Daily Iowan.

The UI also reached a settlement with Meyer, ending all further legal action against the UI. Meyer won $1.43 million in a discrimination lawsuit against the UI on May 4.

The documents stated Meyer’s settlement totals over $2.3 million, with $874,000 for wages and $1,456,603.19 for emotional distress damages. Meyer’s attorney fees will also be paid for, totaling $1,622,396.81.

The Athletics Department will fund all the settlements; it is a self-sustaining department that does not receive tuition or taxpayer funding, according to a press release from UI spokesperson Jeneane Beck.

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About the Contributor
Katelyn Weisbrod, Projects Editor
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @katelyn_eliz Katelyn Weisbrod is the Projects Editor at The Daily Iowan. Katelyn is a senior at the University of Iowa and has been a part of the DI since her freshman year. She covered sustainability and environmental issues as a news reporter for one year, and served as news editor for a year. As managing editor, she focused on digital strategy and production of long-form articles, while still reporting on environmental issues.