Bryan Pease of the Animal Protection and Rescue League had been suing Guillermo Gonzalez of Sonoma Foie Gras for libel over statements Gonzalez made to me in an October 2005 Chicago Tribune article. Pease had shot undercover video at Sonoma Foie Gras showing a rat chewing the bloody rear ends of two ailing ducks, and Gonzalez said he had never seen such a thing.

“I very seriously believe–I am almost convinced–that this was staged,” Gonzalez said.

In the story, Pease shot back: “Guillermo Gonzalez’s accusation about us staging that footage is one of the craziest, stupidest things I’ve ever heard this psychotic animal torturer to ever say.”

Gonzalez countersued Pease.

After years of motions, jury selection finally was about to begin Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court when, my Chicago Tribune colleague Robert Mitchum reports, the two parties settled, on confidential terms.

Pease told Mitchum he was happy the suit was settled but disappointed that he wouldn’t be presenting his case to a jury, saying, “It would undo some of the harm that is caused when claims like this are made that footage is staged. Having these issues aired in court is one way to bring them to life.”

Gonzalez and his attorneys weren’t available for comment in the story.