Ohio AG's office settles with women

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Two women who had sexual harassment cases pending against the Ohio attorney general's office have settled their claims for nearly $500,000, officials said.

The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported Thursday that Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout signed a settlement with the state Wednesday. They complained former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann did not heed their complaints of sexual harassment in his office.

The taxpayer-funded settlement still must be approved by the state Controlling Board.

Under the settlement, each woman would receive $200,000 and another $95,000 to their attorneys, the newspaper said.

The settlement caps "a series of events that was unbecoming of the leadership of the attorney general's office," said a statement by Attorney General Richard Cordray and attorney Rex Elliott, who represents the women.

"We believe that what happened to them was wrong and regret the difficulties they have experienced," the statement said.

Dann, a Democrat, resigned his office in mid-May amid the sexual harassment scandal and after admitting to having an affair with a staffer.