SEATTLE (AP) — The City of Seattle has settled a lawsuit filed by a man who claimed former Mayor Ed Murray sexually abused him when he was a teenager.
City Attorney Pete Holmes announced late Saturday that the city will pay Delvonn Heckard $150,000 to resolve the lawsuit, which led to Murray’s resignation.
The lawsuit claimed Murray raped and molested Heckard as a teen and blamed the city for enabling Murray to use his political office to slander Heckard and others for months.
Holmes says the settlement is an important step in putting a sad chapter behind the city.
Murray continues to deny the allegations and in a statement said the relief of resolving the case is bittersweet.
Heckard’s lawyer, Lincoln Beauregard, said Sunday that the funds will help Heckard in his recovery.