Kansas City Council will consider $225,000 settlement for former aide of Michael Brooks

The Kansas City Council next week will consider a $225,000 settlement to resolve a hostile-workplace allegation from a former aide to ex-councilman Michael Brooks.

Tonia Titus was an aide to Brooks after he was elected in 2011. According to a city document, she filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging a hostile environment based on her sex and retaliation.

The city’s Law Department is recommending settling the discrimination claim for $225,000, saying a jury could believe her allegation and the city could be subject to even higher damages and attorney fees. The settlement proposal goes to the finance committee for consideration Wednesday.

Titus last year accused Brooks of assaulting her in his office. He denied the allegation and a special prosecutor declined to file charges. But Titus was moved to a different city job, and Brooks resigned late last year.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Kansas City Council will consider $225,000 settlement for former aide of Michael Brooks."