Falwell Sues Liberty, Accuses School Of Damaging His Reputation

LYNCHBURG, VA — Former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the evangelical school founded by his father, arguing he was wrongly removed from his leadership position.

Falwell had led the school for 13 years before he resigned under pressure in late August, a day after he said his wife had an affair and shortly after he shared a photo of himself with his pants unzipped aboard a yacht.

In the lawsuit filed in state court in Lynchburg, Falwell's lawyers alleged that Liberty University defamed Falwell and breached the former school president's contract.

"Mr. Falwell has suffered damage to his reputation, damage to his profession, humiliation, and anguish; lost business opportunities; and suffered other pecuniary damage," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also alleged that Liberty University officials accepted what Falwell said are false claims about his involvement in an extramarital affair between his wife and the couple's business partner and “moved quickly” to destroy his reputation.

Liberty University spokesman Scott Lamb told the AP that the school, which had not yet been served with the lawsuit, would have a formal statement in response later Thursday. The school’s board of trustees has been meeting this week.

In a statement issued a day before he resigned, Falwell, 58, said he was seeking mental health counseling after dealing with fallout from the extramarital affair. Falwell already was on an indefinite leave of absence from his roles as president and chancellor of the university following the controversial posts on social media.

The lawsuit, filed with the Virginia Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg, said the university accepted false claims Giancarlo Granda, a former family friend, made publicly against the Falwell family.

In August, Granda claimed that he had an affair with Falwell and his wife, Becki. However, Falwell claims that he was not involved in the relationship.

In a news release issued Thursday, Falwell said that based on research and investigation, Granda "appears to be supported financially by political opponents of Mr. Falwell in the midst of a heated presidential campaign, likely including the anti-Trump political action committee called The Lincoln Project."

"We attempted to meet several times with the Liberty University Board of Trustees Executive Committee but were unsuccessful in doing so," Falwell attorney Robert Raskopf said in a statement. "Thus, we were forced to seek remedy for Mr. Falwell's ongoing injuries and damage to his reputation through the Court."

The lawsuit stated that Falwell's employment agreement with the university includes a non-disparagement clause.

Falwell is seeking damages for Liberty University's "acts in defaming him and breaching the employment agreement" as well as punitive damages.