Disgraced evangelical Jerry Falwell Jr. has just been served with a massive civil lawsuit from Liberty University seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages after the two parted ways last summer on less-than-friendly terms.
The 74-page lawsuit was filed yesterday in Lynchburg Circuit Court. It accuses Falwell of orchestrating a “well-resourced exit strategy” from his role as president and chancellor by withholding damaging information when he re-negotiated his contract in 2019.
That “damaging information” was, of course, the whole cuckolding/blackmail story involving his former pool boy, Giancarlo Granda, that dominated the headlines pretty much all of last summer.
Related: Jerry Falwell Jr.’s personal trainer files $10M lawsuit, says he’s not just “another pool boy”
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The lawsuit claims Falwell had a “fiduciary duty to disclose Granda’s extortive actions, and to disclose the potential for serious harm to Liberty” but that instead he “furthered the conspiracy of silence and negotiated a 2019 Employment Agreement that contained a higher salary from Liberty.”
“Despite his clear duties as an executive and officer at Liberty, Falwell Jr. chose personal protection,” it states.
The lawsuit also accuses Falwell of deliberately withholding “the issue of his personal impairment by alcohol” and claims he “smelled of alcohol during work interactions” and that his wife, Becki, even alerted the school about his “excessive use of alcohol.”
The biggest revelation, however, is the one that seems to be getting the least amount of attention in the media.
Related: Jerry Falwell Jr. was just busted for even more alleged naughty behavior
In the lawsuit, Liberty claims Falwell has been hanging onto personal property, including “confidential information,” that belongs to the university. What sort of “confidential information”, you ask? That’s a veeeeery good question, and one we’re sure we’ll hear more about in the very near future.
The school is seeking millions of dollars in damages, including $10 million in compensatory damages that it wants tripled to $30 million, as permitted under state law in limited circumstances, plus a minimum of $350,000 in punitive damages and additional costs and fees.
Falwell has not commented on the lawsuit, but Twitter sure has some thoughts…
I’m trying to decide who is sleazier — Matt Gaetz or Jerry Falwell Jr.
— Jon Cooper ?? (@joncoopertweets) April 16, 2021
Lawgeeks, here's a copy of Liberty University's lawsuit against Jerry Falwell, Jr. for breach of contract, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy.
Liberty is seeking more than $30 million. https://t.co/jNAHzKxRMA pic.twitter.com/ujDUiPowFj
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) April 16, 2021
Is @JerryFalwellJr going to testify, or would he just prefer to watch as the plaintiff’s lawyer drills his wife? #JerryFalwellJrIsACuck
— Damian Bryant (@RealDamianB) April 16, 2021
So Liberty University filed a lawsuit against Jerry Falwell Jr for concealing a relationship with his former pool boy.
Bwaahahahahahahahahahaha!
— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) April 16, 2021
Maybe they can make The Jerry Falwell Jr Story into a movie. Who plays Jerry? More important, who plays the pool boy.
— W. M. (@Minuteman04) April 16, 2021
The New York Times tried to reach Jerry Falwell, Jr. for comment, but he wasn't at liberty to say. ? pic.twitter.com/BZOtv2WvRp
— Charlotte Clymer ???? (@cmclymer) April 16, 2021
Liberty University's lawsuit against Jerry Falwell Jr. reminds us that, not only is God watching, but so was Jerry Falwell Jr.
— Mark Judson For Congress – Scorched Earth Dem 2022 (@Judson4Congress) April 16, 2021
I think they should sue each other and hopefully both will be bankrupt from the legal fees and we can be rid of the school and Falwell.
— John 💉 Vaccinated (@JohnCPgh) April 16, 2021
Jerry Falwell Jr., Donald Trump, and Matt Gaetz walk into a bar…
I’m kidding. Those motherfuckers are going to jail.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) April 16, 2021
The feel good story of the year https://t.co/mc6D5IxIOL
— Molly Jong-Fast? (@MollyJongFast) April 16, 2021
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Invader7
@ Jon Cooper : It’s a tie.. Cause in the republican world they have no standards.. So they all qualify to be scum !!
Fahd
I guess the new folks at Liberty thought better of their original strategy of paying off Falwell to go away; except now he has the tuition dollars they should never have given him in the first place. This effort to recoup seems to have a good basis in fact and law, but I think Jerry will try to settle for a fraction of what they’re asking. If that doesn’t work, I predict he’ll seek to discharge any potential judgement against him in a bankruptcy proceeding. His children must be very proud. Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.
Mack
I would love to see them bankrupt him. Take away all his toys, homes, cars, and so forth. No one deserves it more-well maybe Donald.
Prax07
And to think…that poolboy wasn’t even that hot, like lower end of the poolboy spectrum. If you’re gonna get ruined by something at least let the dude be porn star hot.
My2CentsWorth
…. but he was what was available and what appealed to Becki Tilley Falwell may not have been looks. At least not what his face looks like.
BLAKENOW
iQueerty staff : if you are going to report legit news stories get the FACTS STRAiGHT HE’S BEING SUED FOR 10 MILLION NOT 30 .!!!! HOW HARD IS IT TO COPY AND PASTE FROM CNN? I guess it’s pretty hard.
Mr. Stadnick
here here
My2CentsWorth
Someone suggested making a movie out of this. If Colton Underwood can act he should be considered for one of the roles.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
To tell you the strait up god’s honest truth I believed all along this ENTIRE “scandal” was orchestrated by a kid who grew up resenting his father and EVERYONE around him. I see no emotion in his eyes AT ALL and whether with a male or female I see him as emotionless with both even during sex. That horse, gym and other photos that have surface ALL depict him unsmiling, uncaring or lets just say its a “what the hell am I doing here” feel I got from them. I actually feel sorry for him because I can imagine what it had to be like when people no doubt continuously reminded him of the riches his father’s pack of lies and deceit brought the family (never mind those around him as well because he knew he was suppose to be too stupid to figure out their ultimate goal but he was probably on to them around age 8 or maybe even earlier).
barryaksarben
He is TRASH. I had a terrible father but know how to smile and do it often. He is NOT his father although I had No respect for his vile father wither. Both are or were monsters
woodroad34
Schadenfreude is great with this one. And frankly, a learning experience for those of black souls based on a hateful and demeaning religion meant to scare, torture and break your soul instead of enlivening it.
rbernard
When you think about mean old Jerry Falwell and his vile spawn, Jerry Falwell Jr and sum up what they have done over the decades to harm, marginalize, and demonize our community, simply because of whom we chose to love, this moment in time is so rich.
This is a feel good story and it is satisfying to witness the comeuppance of Jerry Falwell Jr, because he had it coming.
This comeuppance was long overdue and we owe a debt of gratitude to Karma, that she generously, kindly, pull back the veil and let us watch Jerry Falwell Jr’s downfall from the sidelines.
James
I HOPE LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ROTS. I HOPE JERRY FALWELL ROTS.