More shade is thrown both on the branding of conservative Liberty University and its former president Jerry Falwell Jr.
That's because media outlets such as The Hill are running with the University's filing of a lawsuit in Virginia state court yesterday against Falwell. That University had been founded by Falwell's father in 1971. It stood as a symbol of the best of American conservative thought and behavior.
The litigation contends that Falwell withheld pertinent information from the board of trustees when negotiating his contract in 2019. The lawsuit has three counts: breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and statutory conspiracy.
The alleged concealment involved two matters. One was the extortion plot by the pool caretaker Giancarlo Granda who threatened to disclose details about an affair with Falwell's wife Becki. The other was about Falwell's alleged impairment by alcohol. It is contended that Falwell anticipated a scandal would break and he wanted to ensure a hefty severance package.
The suit seeks $10 million in compensatory damages. In VA that can be tripled. There is also a request for punitive damages.
Before the suit had been filed Falwell had resigned from his job. More recently so did his son Trey, who had served as vice president. The University is making no comment about the latter resignation.
What a branding mess.
The University looks foolish for getting into this high-profile pickle.
Falwell probably is finished as a conservative leader. Among his errors of judgment had been appearing on a boat with his arm around a female not his wife and his trousers unzipped, with the underwear visible.
Along the way in this saga, Falwell has sued the University of defamation but dropped the lawsuit, without explanation.
At one time he had extreme influence in the conservative movement. It has been said that he was able to motivate evangelicals to support the political aspirations of Donald Trump.
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