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Drae Charles, a former analyst in the Office of Equity & Community Engagement, had alleged he was subject to race-based discrimination and retaliation. The city denied the claims.
The city of Eugene paid a former employee and his attorneys $67,500 to settle a federal employment discrimination lawsuit filed last year.
The city agreed to pay Drae Charles $5,418 for lost wages, $16,256 for noneconomic losses, and $45,824 for attorney’s fees and costs. Lookout Eugene-Springfield obtained the settlement agreement, dated Aug. 3, through a public records request.
Charles was formerly a management analyst and a human rights and equity analyst for the city’s Office of Equity & Community Engagement.
He sued the city in U.S. District Court in Eugene in March 2025 after he was fired the year before. His lawsuit alleged he was subjected to race- and color-based discrimination and retaliation. He had requested a jury trial and compensation for economic and noneconomic damages, as well as attorneys fees.
Charles began working in the role in 2022. According to the city’s 2026 salary schedule, management analysts currently earn between $89,814.40 and $116,729.60 per year.
A city spokesperson last week confirmed the parties reached a settlement but did not disclose the terms.
In exchange for the funds, Charles agreed to release, acquit and “forever discharge” the city and its employees from “any and all claims, demands, damages, causes of action, or suits of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown,” according to the settlement agreement.
The parties agreed that the settlement shouldn’t be construed as an “admission of liability or wrongdoing” by any party, per the agreement. The city denies any “wrongful acts whatsoever,” the settlement states.
“The parties agree that this agreement is entered into for purposes of settling and compromising disputed claims,” the settlement reads.
The city agreed not to tell Charles’ prospective employers that he was “terminated, discharged for cause, or ineligible for rehire, unless required by law.”
If contacted by Charles’ future employers or other third parties seeking information about his work for the city, the city will only provide the dates of his employment, positions and pay information, according to the agreement.
“In the event the disclosure of additional information is required by law, the city shall provide Charles with contemporaneous notice of such disclosures, indicating the persons or entities receiving information and a certified copy of any information provided,” the agreement states.
Reached via email, Charles declined to comment. The city did not immediately return a request for comment.
