Jerry Falwell Jr. Sues Liberty

Says beloved school 'needlessly injured' his reputation
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 29, 2020 12:30 PM CDT
Jerry Falwell Jr. Sues Liberty
In this Nov. 16, 2016 file photo, Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr., poses during an interview in his offices at the school in Lynchburg, Va.   (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

"Other than God and my family, there is nothing in the world I love more than Liberty University," says Jerry Falwell Jr. And yet he's suing the evangelical school his father founded for defamation and breach of contract, reports NBC News. Falwell resigned as university president in August amid scandals including an awkward photo and a business associate's claim that he had sex with Falwell's wife while Falwell watched. In his lawsuit, Falwell claims officials "jumped to conclusions about the claims made against my character, failed to properly investigate them, and then damaged my reputation following my forced resignation," reports Axios.

Falwell claims the university "needlessly injured and damaged his reputation" with its statements about him as well as its investigations into his behavior. "I must take the necessary steps to restore my reputation and hopefully help repair the damage to the Liberty University brand in the process," he says in a statement. His lawyer says the lawsuit was filed after failed attempts to meet with the university's Board of Trustees Executive Committee. Falwell previously said he would receive $10.5 million in severance, but the university has disputed that figure, notes the AP. (More Jerry Falwell Jr. stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X