SAN FRANCISCO AP – In an unusual act of contrition, a state court judge has publicly apologized and agreed to pay $100,000 to Silicon Valley billionaire Tom Siebel for besmirching him in a lawsuit she filed as an attorney more than a decade ago.

“I write to express my sincere regret for pursuing claims against you that were determined to be without merit,” San Mateo Superior Court Judge Carol Mittlesteadt wrote in an apology to Siebel that was released Thursday.