AACC and a former physician assistant student who sued the college in March are trying to settle the case out of court instead of going to trial.  

“What happens in a settlement conference … is hopefully a process leading to a compromise that will resolve the case,” Robin Cockey, a member of former student Keshea Tyrell’s legal team and a partner at the Cockey, Brennan & Maloney law firm, said. “The objective is to produce the middle ground.” 

In her lawsuit, Tyrell, who is black, claimed the college discriminated against her because of her race and because she has sickle cell anemia, a disease most commonly found among those of African descent.  

Tyrell claimed her professors dismissed her from the program after treating her different from other students in her classes.  

Tyrell had asked the court force AACC to reinstate her into the physician assistant program; pay her legal fees; and grant her “other and further relief” as “her cause may warrant.” Cockey declined to comment on the amount of money Tyrell would settle for. 

AACC did not comment on the case.