Controversial former Northern Illinois University Police Chief Donald Grady II will receive $450,000 to end his lawsuit and any other legal issues with the university, the NIU Board of Trustees agreed today.
Grady was fired in 2013 over his department's handling of evidence in a sexual assault charge against a former officer. Grady sued the following year claiming racial discrimination and violation of his rights to due process. The lawsuit had been scheduled for a Jan. 9 court date.
The dismissal letter to Grady said that he "ordered, encouraged and/or condoned" withholding evidence that could have cleared NIU officer Andrew Rifkin of the sexual assault charges.
The settlement also includes $575,000 for Grady's attorney, Michael Fox, and a prohibition of either side commenting on the settlement. Grady will be reinstated to his old job and will resign immediately, under the agreement.
Grady maintains that his claims were brought in good faith, and NIU and the individual defendants have denied any wrongdoing,
According to the NIU statement, "This agreement ends the current litigation between the parties and allows both Grady and the University to, instead, dedicate their time, attention and resources towards more beneficial pursuits ... University officials and Grady have determined that it is in their best interests to move past their differences."
The agreement provides for Grady and his attorneys to be paid $1,025,000, of which
NIU’s insurance carrier will pay $1 million of the settlement amount and the university will pay $25,000.
