Harassment suit settled

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 11:36 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- Six years of legal wrangling over a casino sexual harassment lawsuit may be finally over.

Attorneys confirmed that a tentative settlement was reached between former Mystic Lake Casino executive Leonard Prescott and Jill Gavle, a former casino security guard who said Prescott sexually abused her.

Gavle, who was 26 when the lawsuit was filed in 1994, alleged that she was coerced into having sex with Prescott, then 43. Gavle said Prescott beat her, fired her and threatened to kill her after she wanted to wanted to talk about her child, who she said was fathered by Prescott.

Prescott, who has paid Gavle child support, has said the allegations are untrue. In 1994 he admitted to using "strong language" with Gavle, but said he never threatened or physically abused her.

Jury selection for the lawsuit was set to begin this week in Scott County District Court.

The settlement would allow the two parties to avoid embarrassing testimony and the potential that the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota tribe, which runs the casino in Prior Lake, would be forced to disclose sensitive information about casino profit sharing.