Former Owen City Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Kind received payment of $13,500 to settle her lawsuit against the city regarding her termination. The payment, which was accepted by Kind on July 17, 2024, releases the city from any future claims against it or its employees, whether known or unknown at the time of the settlement.

The final agreement refers to a release of “any and all actions, complaints, causes of action, grievances, attorney fees, interest, costs, wages, benefits, pensions, back pay, short-term or long-term disability, claims regarding any insurance policy, claims regarding any compensation plan, actual damages, compensatory damages, severance pay, mental anguish, pain, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional distress, exemplary and/or punitive damages, statutory penalties, and/or any other liabilities of any nature whatsoever which have or could have arisen out of Kind’s employment with the City, actions taken by her during her employment with the City, and/or termination therefrom and any other dealings of any kind, up to and including the date of this Release, whether presently asserted in any jurisdiction or forum or otherwise, known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated.”

The settlement states that it is a full compromise of a disputed claim and that it doesn’t admit a liability by the city, but rather was made for the purpose of avoiding the expense of further litigation.

Kind received two checks, $3,500 in wages and an additional check for $10,000. The funds were paid by the city’s insurance company.