The family of 22-year-old graduate student Katy Benoit and the University of Idaho announced they reached a settlement Thursday following the tort claim filed by the Benoits in December.
Benoit died Aug. 22 after being shot 11 times with a .45 cal handgun by former UI assistant professor of psychology Ernesto A. Bustamante. Bustamante was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Aug. 23 in a Moscow hotel. The two were involved in a sexual relationship.
The settlement resulted in a monetary amount currently unreleased until all parties have officially signed the documents, which should occur Friday, according to university spokesman Judd Wilson.
The following improvements on behalf of the university will also occur as a result of the settlement:
– Improved communication and procedural operations with Moscow Police Department
– Development of improved communication for a procedure to allow students and faculty to safely, securely and anonymously report harmful/inappropriate activities occurring at the university
– Improved sexual harassment training for students, staff and faculty
– Creation of an annual on-campus forum dedicated to safety, value-based decision making, rights and responsibility
The university enacted changes to Policy 3205 in the Faculty Staff Handbook on Dec. 13, 2011, stating that the university’s mission depends on maintaining professionalism, and romantic or sexual relationships “inevitably raises concerns for objectivity, fairness, and exploitation.”
This includes instructor-student, instructor-assistant, senior faculty-junior faculty, mentor-trainee, advisor-advisee, counselor-client, teaching assistant-student, coach-athlete, student housing staff-resident and supervisor-employee relationships.
The Benoit family will donate all proceeds from the settlement to charity, primarily the Katy Benoit Memorial Fund established through the Idaho Community Foundation.
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