Professor Accepts $100,000 to End Paternity Leave Bias Lawsuit

The South Dakota Board of Regents and two officials will pay $100,000 to resolve a Northern State University professor’s allegations that he was denied tenure because he took time off when his child was born.

Thomas Orr accepted an offer of judgment over his 2019 lawsuit on July 11. But the case is pending appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Former NSU Dean Kelly Duncan challenged the US District Court for the District of South Dakota May 16 order denying her qualified immunity.

The board, Duncan, and university president Neal Schnoor—the other official—asked the ...