This can’t be true. The “legal experts” on here vowed that United’s lawyers would make mincemeat of him in court. And it was implied that he would end up paying United money.
This may not be about legality. This may be about it's cheaper for their bottom line to get this off the news.
I've heard this has cost them over 100 million in stock value. A 10 or so million dollar settlement would be cheaper than keeping this thing in the news.