Posted on 04/01/2022 8:10:45 AM PDT by grundle
A record $31 million award to a mom and pop bakery that accused a liberal Ohio college of ruining its business with false accusations of racism has been upheld by a state appeals court.
Gibson's Bakery, a 135-year-old family business near the campus of Oberlin College, was initially awarded more than $40 million in punitive and compensatory damages in the aftermath of a 2016 incident in which the owner's son confronted three black Oberlin students who were stealing wine from the store. Although the suspects were arrested and later admitted they were shoplifting, the episode touched off school-sanctioned protests and accusations of racism that crippled the store's business.
"At trial, it was absolutely clear to the jury (as reflected by the verdict) that there was not a shred of truth in the vicious statements about the Gibsons and that the College caused the devastating harm," the law firm representing the Gibson family said after winning the case. "The truth prevailed."
The initial award by Lorain County Judge John Miraldi in 2019 was later reduced to $25 million plus $6 million in legal fees. In the latest development, a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit unanimously upheld the award.
Despite the students' guilt, Oberlin College and key officials, including its vice president and dean of students, accused the bakery of racial profiling, claiming that owner David Gibson and other employees assaulted the students and had a history of racism. At trial, the jury heard evidence that college officials distributed flyers containing the false accusations and encouraged students to boycott and protest the store.
The award is the largest defamation verdict in Ohio history.
Oberlin, a small liberal arts college in northern Ohio, has long been known for left-wing politics. Alumni include actress Lena Dunham, former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, liberal activist Nan Aron, Chicago Seven member Jerry Rubin, former Amnesty International head William Schulz, and a host of notable journalists. But one alumna, conservative pundit Michelle Malkin, was not sorry to see her alma mater punished.
"For decades, grievance-mongering Oberlin elites have bullied and defamed innocent white people without consequences in their multicultural Ohio enclave," Malkin wrote in a 2019 Daily Signal column titled "I’m an Oberlin Graduate. They Had It Coming." "False racial allegations and toxic identity politics are the bread and butter of Oberlin campus life."
It’s likely that Oberlin’s liability insurance covered $20 million or more of the award as defamation/libel/slander is covered.
A possible out for the insurance company would be if they can show that the defamation was known/intentional and the college knew it was false. (Likely true)
This entire episode would never have occurred if the shoplifters had been white.
Very good news.
Oberlin is typical of “higher education” these days. Morons teaching people to be morons.
Bakery shops are litigation bear traps. It’s weird. Maybe a grand a week in profits if super lucky. Pretty shallow pockets.
That’s a shame they have that much money - that place is obviously a joke.
Probably some leftist group will organize a fundraiser to pay off this defamation suit judgment and portray the college as the victim.
yeah but the working hours are enticing. /s
Amazing what can be accomplished when you combine real evidence with a NOT-obama judge…
Yep.
EXCELLENT! The tide is turning.. I pray.
Now if they could nail Facebook and Twitter.
judge said that the Ohio $25M damages cap law was unconstitutional and therefore did not apply.
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Their medical malpractice cap is $225,000. Insurers paradise.
Cream puff reporter dishes fake news: should read The 9th District Court of Appeals in Akron.
So how about 10 years of jail time to the blacks who started it with the allegations of false racism?
Until you hold the scum accountable with massive harsh penalties nothing will change.
It’s not about getting money from the shop. It’s about crushing a white owned business, destroying the lives of the owners and employees with impunity and advertising ones ability to do so!
It’s about flexing social muscles on the beach in hopes of gaining the attention of other like minded entities that they might do likewise while attaining notoriety in furtherance of “The Struggle”
Too bad it doesn’t bankrupt the college. Oh well, you can’t have everything.
Our victories over these fascist b*stards are not that frequent so this is satisfying
A side lesson here:
You wanna sue someone who done you wrong?
Take note of the $6 MM in legal fees.
It is one thing to get the judgment. It is another to get the money. I predict that the college will do everything in it’s power to avoid paying
Hard to bankrupt a college on student loan steroids.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Pay up, suckers.
OUTSTANDING! It warms my heart to hear this news.
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