Willis Group Holdings on Monday said a Manhattan federal court has given preliminary approval to an $8.5 million settlement of a lawsuit accusing the third-largest U.S. insurance brokerage of discriminating against women in pay and promotions. The…company said the settlement relates to a 2001 class-action lawsuit…Willis said the $8.5 million would be deposited in a fund to be distributed to current and former female employees. The company did not admit wrongdoing.