Disgraced former Liberty University president sues on defamation grounds

Former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. is planning on suing his former employer because he alleges he was wrongly ousted from his job, among other claims. Falwell also said that Liberty University defamed him and that they breached their contract with him.

Falwell was forced out after multiple scandals emerged, involving his character and conduct. There were allegations that his family members were abusing his position by receiving favorable business deals from the university, in addition to a photo that he uploaded to the social media platform Instagram.

The photograph in question displayed Falwell with an arm around a woman who is not his wife, with a drink in the other hand. The photograph has since been deleted. Falwell’s initial defense was that the photograph was taken at a “costume party” and the image was “just in good fun.”

There were also reports about Falwell using a private luxury yacht without properly compensating the yacht’s owner, which could skirt non-profit regulations.

Officially, Falwell resigned after being placed on an indefinite leave of absence.

The complaint was filed in state court in the hometown of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. There was no specific dollar amount for damages when it was filed.

Related Topics