Women settle suit with Muskogee over alleged harassment

<p align="justify"> - (Muskogee-AP) -- Eleven women represented by attorney Johnnie Cochran have settled an $11 million lawsuit against the city of Muskogee.<br><p align="justify">The suit was settled

Wednesday, September 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

- (Muskogee-AP) -- Eleven women represented by attorney Johnnie Cochran have settled an $11 million lawsuit against the city of Muskogee.

The suit was settled yesterday.

The settlement requires that neither side disclose its terms.

Court records show the city offered $850,000 last week to settle the case.

The amount could become public when the city's insurance company issues a check.

The women accused former city housing inspector James Martin of threatening to disconnect utilities at their houses if they refused to have sex with him.

Martin pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal criminal charges, admitting in February to trying to coerce a woman into sexual contact in exchange for favorable rulings on building permits.

He is awaiting sentencing and faces a maximum of 12 years in prison.