The (substantial) one they were forced to pay Brendan for firing him. You see, CA law protects employees from being fired for political activities done outside work -- this was a law put on the books a long time ago, originally to defend unionization campaigns and communists from being fired, but it means I can donate to the Pro-Life-Anti-Gay-Anti-Black party all day long, attend their conventions, give speeches, etc, and it's illegal for you to fire me for that.

Funny how so few people know about this law.

That's why they had to come to a settlement to pay him so that he would agree to leave and not pursue his rights under the law.