Yup, but settlement will be related to what they think it will fetch in court. Prob more.
There is a real possibility that they may get nothing in court. United asked him to disembark, which was within their rights, and subsequently requested help from law enforcement, which was also within their rights. Law enforcement requested that he leave, and when he refused to comply with police orders they dragged him away. If the only complaint left in the case is misuse of police brutality, they'll have a tough time walking away with nice money.
However, United knows that this incident will cost them at a minimum the hundreds of millions, and the fallout is just growing. They need closure as soon as possible, not a drawn out legal battle with them defending their actions in court, which will further incriminate them in the court of public opinion. A proactive settlement seems obvious.