Oprah Talks It Out, Settles Defamation Suit

"The two parties met woman to woman without their lawyers and are happy that they could resolve this dispute peacefully," said attorneys for both sides

Maybe all the plaintiff really wanted was what most women want: a sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.

The talk-show queen has reached a settlement in the defamation lawsuit filed against her by Lerato Nomvuyo Mzamane, the former headmistress of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mzamane, who worked at the school when accusations arose that a dorm matron had sexually abused at least seven students, claims that Winfrey smeared her reputation during a press conference addressing the scandal.

"The two parties met woman to woman without their lawyers and are happy that they could resolve this dispute peacefully to their mutual satisfaction," attorneys for both sides said in a joint statement obtained by E! News.

"Ms. Winfrey testified in her deposition that she did not intend the implications placed on her words by the plaintiff," the lawyers continued. "Ms. Mzamane testified in her deposition that she has no evidence that Ms. Winfrey knowingly made a false statement about her or entertained serious doubt about the truth of what she said. We are pleased both parties have reached a conclusion."

So both sides have got to be fairly pleased that the case never went to trial.

Mzamane had sued Winfrey and her Harpo Productions for at least $250,000 in damages.