Florida State University says it's settling a lawsuit with a woman who said she was raped by former star quarterback Jameis Winston.
Her Title X suit against FSU also accused FSU of violating federal law by refusing to investigate and by covering up her allegations of a sexual assault on Dec. 7, 2012.
FSU President John Thrasher announced terms Monday. Thrasher says FSU will pay Erica Kinsman $250,000 and her attorneys $700,000. The lump sum payment of $950,000 is the largest in history to a single plaintiff to settle Title IX discrimination claims of this kind for a school’s indifference to a plaintiff’s sexual assault allegations.
Thrasher says the university is settling to avoid spending millions on the lawsuit.
Kinsman says the university failed to respond to allegations that Winston sexually assaulted Kinsman. “I’ll always be disappointed that I had to leave the school I dreamed of attending since I was little. I am happy that FSU has committed to continue making changes in order to ensure a safer environment for all students. My hope is that the federal investigation of my complaint by the Office of Civil Rights will produce even more positive change, not just at FSU, but across the country.”
TIMELINE OF COVERAGE
Nov. 13, 2013 | Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston questioned in sexual assault
Nov. 20, 2013 | Did Tallahassee cop try to cover-up sexual assault accusation against FSU QB Jameis Winston?
Nov. 20, 2013 | Accuser's family statement bears troubling events in Jameis Winston sexual assault investigation
Nov. 21, 2013 | Lawyer: FSU QB Winston volunteered DNA to police
Dec. 5, 2013 | State Attorney Willie Meggs: No charges to be filed against Florida State Quarterback Jameis Winston
Dec. 13, 2013 | Jameis Winston's accuser's attorney discusses rape investigation
Sept. 17, 2014 | FSU benches Jameis Winston for making "offensive and vulgar" comments about women
Oct. 10, 2014 | Florida State University defends how it handled Jameis Winston case
Oct. 11, 2014 | FSU, Police May Have Hindered Winston Investigation
Oct. 14, 2014 | Should Jameis Winston Drop Out?
Dec. 21, 2014 | Documents: QB Winston cleared in conduct hearing
Dec. 22: 2014 | Jameis Winston Cleared In FSU Code-Of-Conduct Case
Jan. 7, 2015 | Jameis Winston accuser sues FSU in federal court
April 16, 2015 | Lawsuit Filed Against Jameis Winston Weeks Before NFL Draft
April 17, 2015 | Jameis Winston's lawyer: Lawsuit by woman who claimed rape is a 'stunt'
March 10, 2015 | Florida State University asks judge to throw out lawsuit from Jameis Winston accuser
May 9, 2015 | Bucs QB Jameis Winston Files Countersuit Against Accuser
She has a separate lawsuit pending against Winston. There's also an ongoing federal investigation of FSU by the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. That investigation was initiated in March 2014 following Ms. Kinsman’s complaint to the Department and is expected to further address FSU’s Title IX deficiencies as well as any needed changes or monitoring of the university’s compliance.
Winston, now starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, denied Kinsman's allegation. FSU cleared him of wrongdoing.
A prosecutor didn't press criminal charges, saying there were gaps in Kinsman's story and insufficient evidence for a conviction.
