The University of North Texas will pay a $725,000 settlement to Timothy Jackson, a music theory professor who claimed to have suffered professional and emotional damage following accusations of racism and complaints of unfair criticism of the scholarship of a Black music theorist in a publication he edited back in 2020. Of note, Allen Harris Law represented Professor Jackson pro bono.
Attorney Michael Thad Allen of Allen Harris PLLC began representing Professor Jackson almost immediately after his colleagues published petitions calling for him to be fired, his journal to be canceled, and his Center of Schenkerian Studies to be closed. Because publishing free and open scholarship in the Journal was the primary concern, Professor Jackson twice offered to settle the lawsuit with the University without any monetary payment so long as the Journal could resume publishing. Each time, these offers were not only rejected but received no response. Finally, the University of North Texas began meaningful settlement discussion prior to the court rendering a decision on summary judgment.
In addition to the monetary payment of $725,000, the settlement includes agreements to allow Professor Jackson to resume his role as the editor of the Journal of Schenkerian Studies, appoint a co-editor, and research assistant support as well as a one-course release from teaching obligations in order to carry out his work as editor, among other things.
Attorney Michael Thad Allen is quoted as saying, “Of course, as the attorney on the case, I’m overjoyed. I think this is an unqualified positive outcome.”
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