Oberlin College appeals $31 million Gibson bakery decision (Again)

[Wingnut]

Hope they are shot down fast and furiously.  They need to go down again. 


y Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com
OBERLIN, Ohio — Oberlin College is appealing the $31.6 million in damages it was ordered to pay Gibson’s bakery stemming from protests outside the College Street business in November 2016.

“The verdict and judgment in this case set a precedent that endangers free speech on campuses and for all Americans,” Lee Levine, an attorney representing the college, said in a news release. “The jury was allowed to award substantial damages for speech that is protected by the Constitution. The case should absolutely be reviewed by an appellate court.”

The college filed a notice of appeal Tuesday in the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Akron, Ohio to fight the jury’s decision in June to order the college to pay $44 million in damages. A judge later lowered the award to $31.6 million.

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/10/oberlin-college-appeals-31-million-gibson-bakery-decision.html

[txradioguy]

They're gonan rack up more in attorney fees if they keep fighting this than what they owed the bakery in the first place.

[skeeter]

The judge needs to double the fine to discourage more frivolous appeals.

[txradioguy]

The judge needs to double the fine to discourage more frivolous appeals.

Bingo!

[skeeter]

Bingo!

They're unrepentant. As far as I know they haven't admitted culpability & they still employ the marxist toad who ginned up the whole thing.

[txradioguy]

They're unrepentant. As far as I know they haven't admitted culpability & they still employ the marxist toad who ginned up the whole thing.

Last I read the faculty and administrators that were in front of the bakery in the rold of adjitators have denied they were even there...despite several eye witness reports and video to the contrary.

[PeteS in CA]

The judge needs to double the fine to discourage more frivolous appeals.

Absolutely. Oberlin needs to be taught that the legal system is not their plaything and that the First Amendment does not protect slander.

[Wingnut]

Last I read the faculty and administrators that were in front of the bakery in the rold of adjitators have denied they were even there...despite several eye witness reports and video to the contrary.

That is not German to what is happening now.

[txradioguy]

That is not German to what is happening now.

It's not French either.   

[Wingnut]

It's not French either.   

You sounded a little taller on the radio!   

[verga]

Are they trying to delay until the owner dies?

[Wingnut]

Are they trying to delay until the owner dies?

Well, it was reported even if he dies the judgement will not be affected.  If it is not over turned that is.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Hope they are shot down fast and furiously.  They need to go down again. 


y Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com
OBERLIN, Ohio — Oberlin College is appealing the $31.6 million in damages it was ordered to pay Gibson’s bakery stemming from protests outside the College Street business in November 2016.

“The verdict and judgment in this case set a precedent that endangers free speech on campuses and for all Americans,” Lee Levine, an attorney representing the college, said in a news release. “The jury was allowed to award substantial damages for speech that is protected by the Constitution. The case should absolutely be reviewed by an appellate court.”

The college filed a notice of appeal Tuesday in the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Akron, Ohio to fight the jury’s decision in June to order the college to pay $44 million in damages. A judge later lowered the award to $31.6 million.

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/10/oberlin-college-appeals-31-million-gibson-bakery-decision.html

On campuses?  They were protesting in front of the bakery.

They cannot even lie correctly.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Saw this article about the college hiring a high-priced DC law firm on the appeal. https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/10/oberlin-college-hires-high-powered-d-c-lawyers-to-appeal-gibsons-bakery-verdict/

Oberlin College hires high-powered D.C. lawyers to appeal Gibson’s Bakery verdict

Within article is this tidbit:

Chris Canavan, Chair of the Oberlin College Board of Trustees. For most of the past decade Canavan also was Director, Global Policy Development, at Soros Fund Management, until leaving that position last month.  Look like he parted ways at Soros so he can concentrate on burying any reputation whatsoever left at Oberlin.

For any who missed it, here's a former President of Oberlin pleading with it to pay up and save the teardown of his old campus.
Former Oberlin College President: “Pay the court’s judgment, don’t fight it; apologize to the Gibson family and to the community” 
“do whatever is necessary to reaffirm the institution’s identity as a college, not a cause”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/07/former-oberlin-college-president-pay-the-courts-judgment-dont-fight-it-apologize-to-the-gibson-family-and-to-the-community/

Lastly, there is a blog of this matter that is absolutely devasting for Oberlin's handling of this.  The last postings are at the end.

Here's a taste:

It's worth pointing out that this thread was launched in response to the extraordinary spectacle of a former university president - not Marvin Krislov but Fred Starr - writing a signed editorial in the national press in which he said his college needs an "intervention."

The former president lays out a careful, judicious and fact-based case as to why his college must apologize for its atrocious behavior, pay what they owe to the victims of that behavior, and reflect on how their foolish and reckless decisions created this debacle.

Oberlin faculty have also stated their disgust at the college's behavior -- as any decent and fair-minded person would. Those faculty include the former Head of Jewish Studies, Abraham Socher, and former Theatre Professor Roger Copeland.

Finally, even the students whose violent and foolish behavior created this mess have apologized, pled guilty to their crimes, and stated for the record that the smears against the Gibsons are completely without foundation.

And yet the adults who run the college have refused to do what just about everyone else - including the young perpetrators themselves, the townies and low-level Oberlin administrators of all races, former president Starr, leading faculty, and Oberlin alumni - what everyone recognizes needs to be done now: accept responsibility for your conduct, apologize, pay up, and stop smearing and defaming and bullying your neighbors.

Can you not see why this unbelievably nasty behavior is such a serious concern for prospective Oberlin applicants and their parents?

https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/oberlin-college/2149707-oberlin-ex-pres-oberlin-needs-an-intervention-stop-pay-up-apologize-to-the-gibsons-reflect-p8.html

[txradioguy]

You sounded a little taller on the radio!   

Must have been my shoes! 

[txradioguy]

Saw this article about the college hiring a high-priced DC law firm on the appeal. https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/10/oberlin-college-hires-high-powered-d-c-lawyers-to-appeal-gibsons-bakery-verdict/

Oberlin College hires high-powered D.C. lawyers to appeal Gibson’s Bakery verdict

Within article is this tidbit:

Chris Canavan, Chair of the Oberlin College Board of Trustees. For most of the past decade Canavan also was Director, Global Policy Development, at Soros Fund Management, until leaving that position last month.  Look like he parted ways at Soros so he can concentrate on burying any reputation whatsoever left at Oberlin.

For any who missed it, here's a former President of Oberlin pleading with it to pay up and save the teardown of his old campus.
Former Oberlin College President: “Pay the court’s judgment, don’t fight it; apologize to the Gibson family and to the community” 
“do whatever is necessary to reaffirm the institution’s identity as a college, not a cause”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/07/former-oberlin-college-president-pay-the-courts-judgment-dont-fight-it-apologize-to-the-gibson-family-and-to-the-community/

Lastly, there is a blog of this matter that is absolutely devasting for Oberlin's handling of this.  The last postings are at the end.

Here's a taste:
https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/oberlin-college/2149707-oberlin-ex-pres-oberlin-needs-an-intervention-stop-pay-up-apologize-to-the-gibsons-reflect-p8.html

Wow...

[Wingnut]

Wow...

Double wow!   

I hope they get so screwed.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Oh, and here's an amusing piece written by the Emeritus Chair of Africana(whatever that is) studies at Oberlin.

https://oberlinreview.org/19144/opinions/college-should-respect-any-future-appeal-decision/

A few excerpts belittling the verdict of the jury and judge:

1. Raimondo was on the scene to ensure the safety of the students, to make sure that the deaths that occurred at the Kent State University Vietnam War protests in 1970 were not repeated in a similar tragedy in Oberlin. That objective was achieved.

2. Outsiders in support of Gibson’s could have shown up with guns.

8. The College’s image or reputation to attract students may have been irreparably damaged by the charges that it tried to hurt Gibson’s.

9. The first jury’s verdict stains much of Oberlin College’s storied history and legend, as well as that of those who have worked and currently work at the College.

The appeals process may not change that decision, but history needs to record that the College fought valiantly to get the facts right

Desperation

[Wingnut]

This is a segment from CBS on Oberlin College.  Ted Koppel does a very fair job reporting.  However If you watch it when you see the way the new Oberlin College president defends and continues to defame the bakery it will (or should) make you mad.

Video at link

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oberlin-college-and-gibsons-bakery-a-protest-against-racism-and-a-31-5-million-dollar-defamation-award/

[rangerrebew]

Ted Koppel: Despite verdict, Oberlin College President still “makes allusions to a pattern of racist behavior” by Gibson’s 
 
 
Posted by William A. Jacobson      Sunday, November 3, 2019 at 7:30pm

The smear campaign against Gibson’s Bakery continues in interview during CBS Sunday Morning segment about the case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZUzUN3iG48   

One of the most disturbing aspects of the Gibson’s Bakery v. Oberlin College case has been the almost obsessive demonization of Gibson’s Bakery and its owners by the college.
 

It started not just during the protests and pre-litigation interactions that gave rise to the lawsuit, but in the Answer filed by the defendants in response to the lawsuit.

I wrote at the time, on December 13, 2017, Oberlin College lashes out at Gibson’s Bakery, portrays itself as victim:

    Oberlin and Raimondo seek to portray the College as the victim in this scenario, including the confessed shoplifters. I can’t imagine, based on what is publicly available, this will work.

This approach didn’t work.

The defense was tone deaf at best, something I mentioned numerous times during the trial: “from the start of this case I have questioned the aggressive and demeaning attacks on the Gibsons as a defense strategy,” and “I’m still shaking my head at the tone-deafness of the defense in belittling this family business.”

https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/11/ted-koppel-despite-verdict-oberlin-college-president-still-makes-allusions-to-a-pattern-of-racist-behavior-by-gibsons-bakery/#more-299344

[Fishrrman]

Ted Koppel?
Is he still alive...?

[Wingnut]

Ted Koppel?
Is he still alive...?

His head is dead.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Latest piece on the lawsuit.

The President of Oberlin attempts to retry the case outside the courtroom, where Oberlin lost.
A protest against racism, and a $31.5 million defamation award

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oberlin-college-and-gibsons-bakery-a-protest-against-racism-and-a-31-5-million-dollar-defamation-award/

[Wingnut]

Latest piece on the lawsuit.

The President of Oberlin attempts to retry the case outside the courtroom, where Oberlin lost.
A protest against racism, and a $31.5 million defamation award




https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oberlin-college-and-gibsons-bakery-a-protest-against-racism-and-a-31-5-million-dollar-defamation-award/

Can you believe the smug wedindonuffin attitude of the new Oberlin President.

[PeteS in CA]

They're gonan rack up more in attorney fees if they keep fighting this than what they owed the bakery in the first place.

The college trustees should can the president of the college for violating his/her fiduciary duty. Throwing good money into a lost cause is such a violation.

The judge needs to double the fine to discourage more frivolous appeals.

Appeals courts should have the option (with criteria) of ruling that an appeal is frivolous and to significantly increase judgments as a consequence of abusing the court system with frivolous appeals.