A Minnesota Senate committee approved a $110,000 settlement Tuesday with the former chief of staff of the Senate DFL caucus, who alleged she faced discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act when she was terminated late last year.

Under the terms of the settlement, Carly Melin, a former state legislator, has to drop any potential legal action against the Senate. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy denied any wrongdoing by the Senate in Melin’s termination, but said they chose to settle to avoid a protracted legal battle.

“I believe the Senate has done nothing wrong, and it doesn’t necessarily sit well to make a payment like this, but in the end I think this is the right thing to do,” Murphy said. “If we do not settle this matter now and proceed to litigation, the costs to the state of Minnesota, win or lose, will be significantly more than the settlement amount.”

Murphy said a settlement also “protects the institution” and limits any exposure. The Senate Rules Committee approved the settlement agreement on a 6-3 party-line vote.

Judith Bevis Langevin, an attorney with Nilan Johnson Lewis representing the Senate, said Melin alleged she was fired from the Senate based on views held by her spouse, former state legislator Joe Radinovich, which constituted “marital status” discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Melin, who could not immediately be reached for comment, did not appear in the Rules Committee meeting. State law gives her 15 days to change her mind about the settlement.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson questioned the decision to settle rather than take the case to court.

“The argument of distraction and the argument of dollars, when weighed against principle, doesn’t sit quite right,” he said.

Senate counsel Alexis Stangl said the chamber has already spent roughly $93,000 in legal fees negotiating the terms of the settlement. The $110,000 figure represents about six months of Melin’s previous salary with benefits.

Melin, who went on leave from the Senate late last year, was initially hired under former Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen and continued on in the job under former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic last year.

A Senate spokesman confirmed in December that Melin was leaving Senate employment, without commenting on the reason for her departure.

In February, Murphy announced the Senate had hired Bri Sharkey-Smith as the Senate DFL’s new chief of staff.

Staff writer Ryan Faircloth contributed to this report.