LEWISTON, Maine — Bates College and its former head football coach have settled a lawsuit filed more than two years ago.
Malik Hall, a veteran football coach who was the school's first Black football coach, filed a lawsuit in April 2022 charging the college with discrimination, defamation, negligence, and retaliation under the Maine Whistleblowers Act.
The suit, filed by Hall, his wife Ayesha Hall, and their three minor children, said they were subjected to "severe racial discrimination" by the college.
According to court documents released Sunday, the settlement does not specifically mention racial mistreatment of Hall but unveils details of the effects mold exposure had on Hall's children while living in college-owned housing.
The suit filed two years ago claimed the family was required to live in a school-owned house "that it knew was infested with black mold" and that his three children continue to experience health impacts of the mold.
One of his children was diagnosed with a mold allergy by their pediatrician and his other two also needed medical treatments due to mold exposure, the court documents show.
The documents also show the Halls and the college asking the court to approve the agreed-upon settlement payment for the former coach's three children. Because they are minors, the payment must go before the court for a final ruling.
The joint motion filed by the Halls and their attorney Kelly Hoffman from Norman, Hanson & DeTroy said, "The parties have resolved the claims asserted in this case in their entirety."
"Bates College and Malik Hall and his family have mutually agreed to resolve their dispute," Hoffman and Mary Pols, a spokesperson for Bates, said Sunday.
