Golden Triangle Development LINK and insurance carrier United States Liability Insurance Company have settled a federal lawsuit over the company’s refusal to cover a former employee’s discrimination and retaliation claims.
Joseph Adams, who represented the LINK, and Michael Wolf, who represented the Nebraska-based insurance company, both confirmed the case was dismissed with prejudice in June, though both declined to comment further.
The LINK, along with former CEO Joe Max Higgins and members of the Executive Committee, sued USLI in the U.S. District Court of Northern Mississippi in November 2025. The LINK sought a jury trial as well as with $1 million in damages.
Bain Nickels, chair for the 13-member Executive Committee, did not return requests for comments by press time Wednesday. Details of the settlement are not included in publicly available court documents.
The suit alleged USLI improperly denied the LINK’s claim for liability coverage, which was tied to claims made by Betsy Young, who worked for the LINK from 2019 until August 2025.
Young, who eventually rose to the position of vice president of economic development, claimed Higgins was harassing her and speaking to her in a shocking manner, prompting her to start recording their conversations in 2022. Young compiled more than 700 audio recordings of the alleged behavior, according to court documents.
After she resigned in August 2025, claiming to be forced out, Young’s attorney sent a demand letter to the LINK alleging Young had suffered discrimination, harassment and retaliation. The letter sought both monetary and non-monetary relief.
Higgins, who led the organization for more than 20 years, was fired in August 2025. Three days after announcing his termination, the Executive Committee issued a statement specifying it was “compelled to remove” Higgins after learning of workplace behavior and speech over an extended period that “do not reflect the values of this organization and the communities we serve.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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