Settlement Amount

I've sued the county due to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The lawsuit was filed in federal court by my ex-attorney. I am now without counsel and the county has scheduled a settlement conference this week. I have been harassed for a little over two years now. I had an intimate relationship with a colleague for a little over a year. When I ended the relationship, he took it poorly and treated me like dirt for a year.

He subsequently applied for the management position and was promoted to become my immediate manager, despite the director knowing of our previous history. The moment he was promoted he started in on retaliatory behaviour that continues to this day.

The county is stipulating that should we come to an agreement as far as the monetary settlement, that I have to resign from my current position and never work for the county again.

I am 50 years old with no formal education. We all know how this economy is. I've looked for a job for the last two years and there is nothing out there in my pay scale and I can't afford to take a pay cut.

Since I have to "resign", I will not be entitled to unemployment benefits. I will obviously lose out on my retirement as well. I will have to come out of pocket for medical insurance, etc. As a single mother with a mortgage payment, kids in college etc, I can't afford that without a reasonable settlement. Would asking 1.5 million be out of question? Will they laugh at that? I know they will counteroffer and that is why my starting point would be so high to allow for that.

What do you think? What is a reasonable number considering all those factors? Could I propose they fire my manager and keep me employed for at least 10 years? I am the most senior employee in the unit, I've trained all my colleagues as well as my manager. I've been with the county for ten years and he has only been with the county about four and a half years.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.