Paula Jones lawsuit settled

Four years after Paula Jones brought sexual harassment charges
against President Clinton -- charges that gave Kenneth Starr legal justification to investigate the Monica Lewinsky affair and Clinton's attempt to cover it up -- the case was settled Friday, with the president
agreeing to pay Jones $850,000. The deal, which included no apology or
any admission of guilt, allowed all parties to walk away
claiming victory.

The Jones case has been complicated by billing squabbles among Jones' various attorneys and disputes over whether an apology by the president would be issued.

The settlement comes on the same day that the White House suffered setbacks on two other legal fronts. Independent counsel Starr indicted Webster Hubbell, a former top Justice Department offical and a former partner of Hillary Clinton's at the Rose Law Firm, for the third time, charging him with 15 felonies. If convicted, Hubbell could face 325 years in prison. Starr also sent new evidence to Congress regarding the president's relationship with former White House volunteer Kathleen Willey.

The text of the legal agreement between Clinton and Jones follows:

Whereas it is the desire of all the parties to end the above-captioned
litigation for all purposes, it is hereby stipulated and agreed as
follows:

1. The plaintiff, Paula Corbin Jones, will receive and accept a total
payment of $850,000 in full satisfaction of all claims for damages,
including but not limited to any physical and personal injury, civil
rights violations, emotional distress, and any fees and expenses incurred
in connection with this litigation or the facts and circumstances
underlying it;

2. William Jefferson Clinton will cause said sum to be paid to the
plaintiff within 60 days of execution of this agreement;

3. The parties, Paula Corbin Jones, Danny Ferguson and William Jefferson
Clinton, hereby unconditionally release each other and their
representatives in connection with any claims which have or could be made
in or in connection with the litigation or the facts and circumstances
underlying it;

4. Upon the execution of this agreement, the parties will jointly file a
motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, seeking
voluntary dismissal of appeal No. 98-2161 EALR, each party to bear his or
her own costs;

5. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to be an admission of
liability or wrongdoing by any party;

6. It is understood and agreed that this is the entire and only agreement
between the parties and that it will be filed in open court;

7. It is understood and agreed by the parties that the agreement of each
of them to this stipulation of settlement and release is not subject to
any condition, and that the consideration recited herein is the sole
consideration for the parties' agreement to this stipulation.

8. It is understood and agreed that the parties have designated their
counsel to execute this agreement on their behalf.

Signed and agreed Nov. 13, 1998, by Robert S. Bennett, counsel to William
J. Clinton; William McMillan, counsel to Paula Corbin Jones; Donovan
Campbell Jr., counsel to Paula Corbin Jones; and Bill W. Bristow, counsel
to Danny Ferguson.