Settlement Reached in Eddie Long Case (Rumored at $15 million)
An attorney involved in the sexual misconduct lawsuits against Bishop Eddie
Bishop Eddie Long
Long said the “matters have been resolved.”
Barbara Marschalk, who represents New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and LongFellows Youth Academy, said she anticipates ” the lawsuits will be dismissed, with prejudice, by close of business tomorrow.”
B.J. Bernstein, who represents the four men who sued Long, New Birth and LongFellows, also confirmed the lawsuits had been settled.
Neither side would comment further and settlement terms were unknown. Susan S. Raines, a professor of conflict management at Kennesaw State University, said it is not uncommon in civil damages cases for the terms to be private among the parties.
Nice of New Birth to try to spin this as if the lawsuits were thrown out. We’re not stupid Barbara. Really, we’re not. When you mediate a lawsuit, it means that the plaintiffs can’t change their mind later and bring forth these or other allegations.
It is NOT a “dismissal” on the merits, it is a withdrawal of the suits by the plaintiffs. If the lawsuits were dismissed, there would be no NEED for mediation. Expect Long to play this word game moving forward and allege the lawsuits were “dismissed.”
If the suits were dismissed on the merits there would be no need for any settlement.
After a series of discussions, all parties involved have decided to resolve the civil cases out of court. This decision was made to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry.
As is usually the case when civil lawsuits resolve out of court, we cannot discuss any details regarding the resolution or the resolution process, as they are confidential.
This resolution is the most reasonable road for everyone to travel.
