LYNCHBURG (VA)
The Roys Report [Chicago IL]
July 27, 2024
By Julie Roys
Liberty University and its disgraced former president Jerry Falwell, Jr., have reached a settlement agreement, ending years of dueling lawsuits and back-and-forth allegations.
In a statement published online, Liberty announced Friday that the two parties had “reached a global resolution agreement settling all outstanding disputes on both legal and personal matters.”
The statement added that both Liberty and Falwell “sincerely regret the lengthy and painful litigation process, and each take responsibility for their part in the disputes.”
Without being specific, the statement said Falwell “acknowledges and apologizes for the errors in judgement and mistakes made during his time of leadership.” Similarly, Liberty’s Board of Trustees “acknowledge and apologize for the errors and mistakes made on their part,” the statement read.
Settlement ends four years of legal battles
Falwell’s legal battles with the school began in October 2020, just two months after Falwell resigned as president amid allegations of a sexual relationship involving Falwell, his wife, and a business associate, Giancarlo Granda. Falwell had also recently published a racy social media post that grabbed national attention.
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Falwell sued Liberty, claiming the school had “set out to destroy Mr. Falwell’s reputation” by repeating the allegations of the sexual relationship between the Falwells and Granda. Though Falwell’s wife, Becki, admitted to the affair with Granda, Jerry Falwell, Jr., denied he participated as a voyeur.
Two months later, Falwell dropped the defamation lawsuit.
Then, in April 2021, Liberty sued Falwell, claiming the former president withheld information from the school about the brewing scandals when negotiating his lucrative 2019 employment agreement. Falwell reportedly received a $10.5 million severance package when he resigned.
Falwell retaliated with a lawsuit against Liberty in March 2023, which argued that the school owed him over $8.5 million in retirement funds.
In July 2023, Falwell and his family trust filed another lawsuit, claiming that Liberty administrators were committing trademark infringement by using the late Jerry Falwell, Sr.’s likeness without consulting the family.
In yesterday’s statement, Liberty said that its settlement with Falwell “is based on a mutual understanding regarding the amount Liberty University will pay its former president in authorized retirement and severance under the various disputed agreements.”
The statement added that both parties had also come to an agreement about “the conditions under which the University will make use of Jerry Falwell, Sr.’s name, image, and likeness.”
Liberty did not disclose the specifics of the agreement. However, in its statement, the school praised Falwell.
“The University appreciates and acknowledges the many contributions of Jerry Falwell, Jr. during more than three decades of service to the University in various capacities, including his 13 years as president and agree that he was instrumental in building Liberty into the world-class Christian institution it is today,” the statement read.
It added that Liberty’s trustees and Falwell “are committed to move forward in a spirit of forgiveness and with the hope of reconciliation in a Christ honoring manner.”
Falwells welcomed back on campus, despite alleged misconduct with students
In the wake of the settlement, Liberty President Dondi Costin sent a letter to Liberty constituents, stating that Jerry and Becki Falwell would now be welcomed back on campus. He also stated that a former prohibition preventing Liberty employees from communicating with Jerry Falwell, Jr., about Liberty business and operations was now lifted.
Constin also stated in the letter that since both parties had resolved their differences, “it would be inappropriate and unhelpful to discuss, speculate, or gossip about details that have been publicly shared.”
Attorney Boz Tchvidjian, a prominent advocate for abuse survivors and former Liberty University law professor, sharply criticized Costin’s comments, especially given alleged misconduct between the Falwells and Liberty students.
In addition to the scandal involving Granda, a former Liberty student claimed that Becki Falwell initiated oral sex with him. And as The Roys Report previously reported, Falwell posted a bizarre exercise video with female Liberty students and liked the social media posts of bikini-clad students.
“Reports of sexual misconduct with students and walking through campus together playing ‘Would you rather’ and yet LU never conducted an independent investigation to find the whole truth of what, if anything, occurred between the Falwells and LU students,” Tchividjian posted on X. “Now they welcome them back with open arms and direct others not to ‘discuss, speculate or gossip about details that have not been publicly shared.’”
Tchividjian called Liberty’s actions a “toxic response” that’s “common within American Evangelicalism . . . and it’s not Christian.”