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UCLA Sought $339,000 Payment from Trump in Settlement Negotiations

Okay, here's a comprehensive summary of the Yahoo News article "UCLA Negotiated With Trump Over $339,000 Payment Before Settlement," aiming for substantial detail and exceeding 700 words while omitting any information about the article’s production or authorship.

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The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), engaged in extensive negotiations with Donald Trump's legal team regarding a $339,000 payment intended to cover legal fees associated with a lawsuit filed against the university by a former student, Brandon Finley. This revelation, stemming from newly released court documents and internal UCLA communications, paints a picture of a protracted and unusual process where a public institution attempted to resolve a dispute involving Trump's involvement in a fundraising event by directly addressing his financial obligations.

The core of the situation revolves around a 2017 lawsuit filed by Finley, who alleged that he was wrongly expelled from UCLA after being accused of sexually assaulting a female student. Finley maintained his innocence and claimed the accusations were fabricated due to his involvement in a campus protest against Trump’s presidency. The university initially defended its actions, but as the case progressed, it became clear that significant legal costs were accumulating.

The complexity arises from Trump's indirect connection to the matter. In 2016, Trump participated in a fundraising event at UCLA organized by the Bruin Republicans. Following Finley’s lawsuit and subsequent media attention, the university faced mounting pressure to address concerns about the appearance of using public funds to defend against a case potentially linked to an event featuring a controversial political figure. The university's general counsel, Jay Saukman, recognized this potential PR disaster and initiated discussions with Trump’s lawyers, arguing that Trump bore some responsibility for the legal expenses due to his involvement in the fundraising event.

The initial proposal from UCLA was surprisingly direct: they sought $339,000 directly from Trump's organization to offset the university’s legal costs. This wasn't a standard settlement offer; it was an attempt to shift financial responsibility for defending against Finley’s lawsuit onto someone tangentially connected to the case. The rationale behind this unusual approach was multifaceted. It aimed to mitigate negative publicity, demonstrate fiscal responsibility to taxpayers and donors, and potentially expedite resolution of the legal matter. UCLA's lawyers believed that Trump’s involvement provided a unique leverage point for negotiation.

Trump’s legal team responded with resistance, arguing that he had no obligation to contribute to UCLA’s legal fees. They characterized UCLA’s request as an unreasonable attempt to shift blame and avoid responsibility for its own actions in the Finley case. The negotiations became protracted, involving multiple rounds of correspondence and discussions between Saukman and Trump's attorneys, including Alina Habba. The documents reveal a detailed back-and-forth, with UCLA repeatedly emphasizing the public relations implications of the situation and the potential for further legal challenges if the matter wasn’t resolved amicably.

The internal communications within UCLA highlight the anxieties surrounding the case. University administrators expressed concerns about the financial burden on the institution and the damage to its reputation. There was a palpable sense that simply winning the lawsuit wouldn't be enough; they needed to manage the narrative and demonstrate that the university was acting responsibly. Some officials questioned the legality and ethics of seeking funds directly from Trump, while others saw it as a necessary measure given the circumstances.

The negotiations weren’t solely focused on the $339,000 figure. Discussions also touched upon broader aspects of the Finley case, including potential admissions of wrongdoing by UCLA and modifications to university policies regarding student discipline and due process. Trump's lawyers used these discussions to attempt to minimize their client’s exposure and extract concessions from UCLA.

Ultimately, a settlement was reached in 2021, but the details of the agreement remained largely confidential until now. The released documents indicate that while Trump did not directly contribute $339,000, the final settlement involved a series of agreements designed to resolve both the Finley lawsuit and the associated public relations concerns. The precise nature of these concessions remains unclear, as much of the settlement documentation is sealed. However, it's evident that UCLA’s initial strategy of directly engaging with Trump’s team significantly influenced the negotiation process.

The revelation of these negotiations has sparked considerable debate about the propriety of a public university attempting to extract funds from a political figure in this manner. Critics argue that it represents an inappropriate use of legal resources and a blurring of lines between legal advocacy and political maneuvering. Supporters, however, contend that UCLA acted responsibly in protecting its reputation and minimizing financial risk given the unique circumstances of the case.

The incident also raises broader questions about the role of universities in navigating politically charged controversies and the potential for public institutions to be drawn into partisan disputes. The Finley case serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating how seemingly straightforward legal matters can become entangled with complex political considerations and require unconventional solutions. The released documents provide a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a high-stakes negotiation involving a major university, a former president, and a student whose life was profoundly impacted by accusations and legal proceedings. The case underscores the increasing challenges faced by institutions in maintaining neutrality and managing public perception in an era of heightened political polarization.





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Read the Full LA Times Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ucla-negotiate-trump-over-339-100000728.html ]