Feed the Children settles lawsuit

Feed the Children has settled a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by its former CEO and president.

The charity paid J.C. Watts more than $1 million to drop the case, The Oklahoman has learned.

Watts, a former U.S. congressman and a star quarterback at the University of Oklahoma, worked for the charity for only nine months in 2016. He sued in 2017 for actual and punitive damages. He alleged in the lawsuit that he was fired in retaliation for reporting problems and irregularities at the charity to the state attorney general's office.

Directors at the Oklahoma City-based charity responded in 2017 that he was fired for legitimate business reasons. They called his conduct "in subordinate, dishonest and improper" and claimed he had misrepresented his fundraising abilities.

Feed t he Children countersued Watts at one point in 2017, as the dispute became increasingly bitter.

After the initial flurry of activity, though, little happened in the case. This month, attorneys said in a legal filing that all claims and causes of actions have been dismissed. Attorneys Tuesday declined to comment on the settlement.

The AG's public protection unit began an inquiry in 2016 after Watts raised his concerns. That inquiry never resulted in any official action against the charity.

Feed the Children at one time was one of the most- recognized nonprofit organizations in the country. Watts ,61, was its most well- known leader since its founder, evangelist Larry Jones, was forced out in 2009 after a series of controversies. Watts had agreed to work for the charity for three years at an annual salary of $300,000.