Three years after winning its defamation lawsuit against Oberlin College, Gibson’s Bakery finally received payment. In a 4-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court declined to hear Oberlin College’s appeal of the $36 million ruling in September and made no additional comments.
Multi-Million Dollar Payment
The Gibsons sued Oberlin for defamation and won $44 million; however, after adding attorneys’ fees and interest, the final judgment was reduced to roughly $36 million.
In a September interview, Lorna Gibson defended her now-deceased husband and her son Allyn, claiming that the school hasn’t given her a dime since the 2019 verdict. The college, according to her, is still refusing to pay, a source posted.
On Thursday, a Lorain County jury increased the damages in the case against Oberlin College to more than $40 million by awarding Gibson’s Bakery $33 million in punitive damages. On behalf of the Gibsons’ legal team, attorney Brandon McHugh informed Insider that Oberlin has since delivered the funds.
According to McHugh, all funds have been disbursed, and the family is continuing to work on restoring Gibson’s Bakery for future generations.
Oberlin College is Disappointed
Although the court’s ruling infuriated Oberlin College, it did not lessen their respect for the law or the fairness of the legal system. The amount paid to Gibson represents the judgment plus attorney fees and accrued interest, the college claims, so no additional payments are necessary.
The size of this verdict is significant to Oberlin; however, due to careful financial planning, including insurance coverage, they can fulfill their legal obligations without hurting academic performance or the student experience.
In November 2017, Gibson’s Bakery sued the college and the dean, alleging that they had slandered Gibson’s as a “racist establishment” and taken steps to harm the family’s livelihood. Gibson claims that the university has brainwashed its students to despise their business.
