Margot Herster, former School of Art and Design instructor, sued the LSU Board of Supervisors in September 2013 for “discriminatory and retaliatory actions” because of her “sex and marital status.”
All parties were instructed on March 10 by Federal Magistrate Judge C. Michael Hill to attend a settlement conference on March 24 after U.S. District Judge James Brady ordered them to begin negotiations last month, according to the District Court for the Middle District office.
Herster began working at the University in 2009, but was not reappointed to her position as faculty in residence, which took effect in May 2013. 
The suit also names several current and former University employees as defendants.
Those include School of Art director Rod Parker, then-Dean Ken Carpenter, human resources associate vice chancellor A.G. Monaco, College of Art and Design professor Kimberly Arp, director of employee relations Jennifer Normand and executive director of academic policy Mimi Ruebsamen.
The suit claims Herster suffered retaliation by termination after two actions during her time at the University.
The first action was reporting illegal conduct at the School of Art and Design AVATAR programs, and the second was filing a sex discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Herster filed the suit in January 2013 against the school for the collection of unauthorized fees.
During discussions with Herster about her work expectations, Parker made “demeaning, sexist comments … about the condition of her employment and questioned her about her interest in babies,” according to the complaint.
Her husband, Scott Sullivan, who is also named as a plaintiff in the suit, is a professor at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and joined the faculty in June 2009, three months before Herster.
In October 2009, Herster claims Parker said her title and pay were set because he thought she was a “trailing spouse,” referring to another female instructor.
“I thought you were like Jackie Parker. She’s our other trailing spouse and she teaches a few classes, takes care of her children and is happy,” the lawsuit quotes Parker as saying.
The 2013 suit led to an internal audit released Jan. 10, 2013, which found more than $55,000 unauthorized course fees charged to students. As a result, $62,590 was refunded to 620 students.
The Daily Reveille previously reported Parker began misusing fees in 2013.
The lawsuit points to a subsequent “prolonged and abusive” smear campaign against Herster by the University in an attempt to justify her termination.
“LSU as a policy does not comment on pending litigation,” said School of Art and Design communications manager Angela Harwood.
The legal answer to the complaint filed on behalf of the University and other defendants denies almost all allegations of wrongdoing.
The lawsuit calls for reinstatement to her position or reasonable front pay, back pay and compensation for loss of benefits and reparations for all damages, including mental and emotional distress.
Calls to Sullivan and Herster’s attorney Jill Craft were unreturned at the time of publication.