Topeka ? The trial of a sex discrimination lawsuit against former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has been delayed as attorneys finalize a settlement.

The lawsuit stems from Kline’s 2007 firing of Jacqie Spradling when he was serving as Johnson County district attorney following his term as attorney general. Spradling, who was a senior prosecutor in Johnson County, alleges she was fired in retaliation for her complaints of sex discrimination.

Attorneys for Kline and Spradling said Tuesday a judge has agreed to postpone the planned start of the trial from this week until January as a settlement is finalized.

Last week, Spradling reached a settlement with the Johnson County government over the case, leaving Kline, the state of Kansas and former Kline deputy Steve Maxwell as the remaining defendants.

Johnson County District Judge Gerald T. Elliott agreed to dismiss the county from the lawsuit after county officials agreed to a $7,500 settlement. As part of the deal, the money will be donated to Safehome, a domestic violence shelter in Johnson County.