NBC 15 has learned that the Lodi Historical Society board of directors has resigned, in order to receive a more than $500,000 donation to the society.

Raymond Brown left the society the windfall when he died last March, but stipulated that the board resign within a year of his death.

Originally, the board members refused to step aside, so society members sued them after several failed settlement attempts.

A board member tells NBC 15 that the entire board stepped down Thursday afternoon following a court hearing in Portage.