Widener prof defamation suit settled

A defamation lawsuit filed by a tenured professor against the dean of the Widener University School of Law has been settled, according to an statement released by the professor's attorney.

"All claims amongst all parties have been resolved amicably and Professor Connell's employment with the University and Law School has been concluded," attorney Thomas S. Neuberger stated in an email.

Lawrence Connell had sued the dean, Linda L. Ammons, accusing her of intentionally making false statements in proceedings to oust him from his post at the university.

The law school and students Jennifer R. Perez and Nadege Tandoh were also named in the suit.

Connell was accused of using hypothetical examples classroom in which he "decided to shoot Dean Ammons and then blew her head off. He was also accused of making discriminatory and racist statements inside and outside the classroom. Connell denied the allegations.

Connell later sued Ammons, the school, and Perez and Tandoh - the students who made the allegations against him.

Contact Kristin E. Holmes at 610-313-8211 or kholmes@phillynews.com.