A settlement has been reached, but no terms disclosed, between the Detroit Free Press and newspaper owner Gannett Co. Inc. and fired editorial page editor and Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Henderson, according to those involved.

Henderson, 47, was fired by Gannett on Dec. 15, 2017, after the newspaper said he had engaged in "inappropriate behavior" with female colleagues years before. There were no accusations or evidence of sexual assault, the Free Press reported at the time.

Henderson's attorney, Bloomfield Hills-based employment and civil rights lawyer Deborah Gordon, confirmed to Crain's on Friday afternoon that the settlement had been reached in late July after several months of negotiations. There was no lawsuit, she said.

"He's moved on and wanted a clean slate and is pleased there is resolution," she said Friday afternoon. "There were never any complaints filed against him."

She termed the settlement talks as routine and said there was "obvious respect" on both sides.

Henderson deferred comment to Gordon.

Phone and email messages were left for Amber Allman, vice president of corporate events and communications for McLean, Va.-based Gannett. The newspaper chain has owned the Free Press since buying it for $262 million from now-defunct Knight-Ridder in 2005.

Peter Bhatia, the Free Press's editor and vice president, said via email Friday afternoon that he can confirm there's a settlement but declined to say more.

Henderson was accused of sexual harassment, along with two other local media figures, on Dec. 6 by Detroit minister W.J. Rideout III during a news conference at a local radio station. Officials with 910AM Superstation indefinitely suspended Rideout's show, saying he failed to give any evidence or supporting facts for two of the allegations and had no victim names or testimonies for any of the three, the Free Press reported.

The newspaper said it "subsequently uncovered examples of inappropriate behavior dating back several years with female colleagues by Henderson."

After he was fired, Henderson explained in a public statement his side of the situation: "The newspaper's review of my ten years in management at the Free Press found instances with two female employees in which my interactions, in social situations outside of work several years ago, were deemed inappropriate," he wrote. "One situation involved sexually themed conversations with an employee; I had encouraged that employee to disclose this interaction. In the other situation, a co-worker who was a manager in another department reported two rejected advances that she said made her uncomfortable.

"Neither of the co-workers involved had come forward or filed a complaint before the outside allegations were made against me. There are no other allegations. I have maintained professional friendships and good working relationships with both of these colleagues. The Free Press told me that neither of the two women want to take any action. The newspaper and its corporate owner, Gannett, decided to end my employment, saying my conduct violated the company's standards. I disagree with that decision and outcome, and I am exploring legal action.

Henderson apologized to the women involved in an on-air statement he read during his radio show in December.

Gannett's statement about Henderson's firing in 2017: "Effective today, Stephen Henderson will no longer be employed by the Detroit Free Press. The decision was made after an internal investigation was conducted which uncovered credible allegations that Mr. Henderson's behavior has been inconsistent with company values and standards."

Investigations at Detroit Public Television, where Henderson hosts "One Detroit" (formerly "MiWeek") and "American Black Journal," and at WDET 101.9 FM, where he hosts the weekday talk show "Detroit Today," didn't turn up any accusations against Henderson, those organizations said. He remains in those roles.

Henderson won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. The Detroit native joined the Free Press in January 2009. He previously was a reporter, editorial writer and editor at The Baltimore Sun, the Chicago Tribune, the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader and the Knight-Ridder Washington bureau, where he covered the U.S. Supreme Court from 2003-07, according to his Pulitzer bio.

He won the American Society of Newspaper Editors' 2001 prize for editorial writing. Henderson graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit High School and the University of Michigan.