Settlement Reached in Eddie Long Case, by Shelia M. Poole and Christian Boone, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 26, 2011

Settlement Reached in Eddie Long Case

By Shelia M. Poole and Christian Boone
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
May 26, 2011

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/settlement-reached-in-eddie-958537.html

Bishop Eddie Long preaches on Good Friday at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Four young men have sued Long, the church and the LongFellows Youth Academy alleging Long coerced them into having sexual relations. The parties have been involved in mediation.

An attorney involved in the sexual misconduct lawsuits against Bishop Eddie 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.

According to Bernstein's office, neither she nor the plaintiffs -- Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande -- would be available for an interview "on this matter, now or in the future. "

Long, pastor of the Lithonia megachurch, which has an international following, has denied the men's allegations through a spokesman.

Mediation between the plaintiffs and one of Atlanta's best-known religious leaders began in February and have often been contentious. Exactly one month ago, DeKalb Judge Johnny Panos said a settlement was within "field goal range."

Panos acknowledged the discussions had been "benevolently intense," likening them to a tennis match, "with a lot of back and forth." Some of the mediation sessions were epic, sometimes lasting through the night.

Without a settlement, the case would have likely gone to trial this summer or fall.

After the charges first surfaced last September, Long vowed to mount a vigorous defense, comparing himself to the Biblical character David in a fight against Goliath.

"This thing I'm gonna fight," he told his congregation the Sunday after the accusations went public.

But since those initial remarks Long has said little about the case or of his accusers.

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