Oberlin College “has initiated payment in full of the $36.59 million judgment in the Gibson’s Bakery case”
Finally, Oberlin College stops fighting, and the future of Gibson’s Bakery looks brighter after six years of darkness.
It looks like the Gibson family’s long struggle with Oberlin College is over, and the college will pay the judgment it has been fighting for years. Unfortunately, David Gibson (featured image) and “Grandpa” Allyn Gibson did not live to see it, having passed away after the trial verdict.
[David Gibson and Allyn W. Gibson at trial][Photo credit Bob Perkoski for Legal Insurrection Foundation]
I just received the following email from Scott Wargo, Director of Communications at Oberlin College:
Oberlin College initiates payment of awarded damages in Gibson’s Bakery case
Oberlin College and Conservatory has initiated payment in full of the $36.59 million judgment in the Gibson’s Bakery case and is awaiting payment information from the plaintiffs. This amount represents awarded damages and accumulated interest, and therefore no further payments are required.
On August 30, the Ohio Supreme Court issued its decision not to hear Oberlin’s appeal. Oberlin’s Board of Trustees has decided not to pursue the matter further.
We are disappointed by the Court’s decision. However, this does not diminish our respect for the law and the integrity of our legal system.
This matter has been painful for everyone. We hope that the end of the litigation will begin the healing of our entire community.
We value our relationship with the City of Oberlin, and we look forward to continuing our support of and partnership with local businesses as we work together to help our city thrive.
Oberlin’s core mission is to provide our students with a distinctive and outstanding undergraduate education. The size of this verdict is significant. However, our careful financial planning, which includes insurance coverage, means that we can satisfy our legal obligation without impacting our academic and student experience. It is our belief that the way forward is to continue to support and strengthen the quality of education for our students now and into the future.
Notice what is not in the statement: An apology. Oberlin College still appears not to understand or accept what it did wrong. It considers itself the victim.
(added) There also was no apology, instead a dismissive attitude, in a mass email sent by the president of the college (emphasis added):
Dear Obies,
Today, Oberlin College and Conservatory initiated payment in full of the $36.59 million judgment in the Gibson’s Bakery case, an amount that represents the awarded damages and interest owed. Please see the college’s public statement below.
While this outcome is a disappointment, our financial plans for this possibility, which included insurance coverage, mean that this payment will not impact or diminish our academic or student life experience, or require us to draw down Oberlin’s endowment.
Like me, the majority of the campus was not here at the beginning of this matter in 2016. But it is also true that this case has been difficult for all of us who love this institution and its hometown. I am looking forward to all that is ahead, and remain focused on Oberlin’s core mission of providing a truly excellent liberal arts and musical education.
Carmen Twillie Ambar
President
Just the cost of doing business is the message from the president of Oberlin College. Considering how she led the campaign to smear the Gibson’s as racist post-trial, that is not surprising.
This is not new. On December 13, 2017 [not a typo, yes, 2017], when Oberlin College filed its Answer in the case, I wrote Oberlin College lashes out at Gibson’s Bakery, portrays itself as victim:
Thus, 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.
It didn’t work. What Oberlin College appears to have lacked from the start was a level-head, and a disinterested ability to evaluate both the case and the defenses. Viciously attacking the Gibsons in the case never was going to work, yet it was the tactic pursued by the college through the trial and post-trial proceedings.
[Meredith Raimondo at trial][Photo credit Bob Perkoski for Legal Insurrection Foundation]
[Owen Rarric and Lee Plakas][Photo Credit: Legal Insurrection Foundation]
UPDATE
I just received the following statement from Owen Rarric, one the Gibson’s trial counsel:
We are happy to hear that full payment on the judgment is forthcoming, allowing the 137-year-old Gibson’s Bakery to move forward continuing to serve its community. David Gibson was always hopeful that the family bakery’s relationship with Oberlin College could one day be restored. Though he was not able to see that day come to pass, his widow Lorna Gibson continues to say: “Oberlin College faculty, staff, and students have always been, and will always be, welcome in our store.” To that end, Lorna is willing to meet with President Ambar and her senior staff to discuss resumption of a long-term relationship whenever the College feels appropriate
[Featured Image: David Gibson hugs grandson after punitive damages verdict][Photo credit Bob Perkoski for Legal Insurrection Foundation]
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Comments
So they wasted a bunch of people’s money and tried to force the justified plaintiffs to all die off and go broke before paying.
Yeah, sounds like a real good footing to “begin the healing”. I wish the other local businesses would refuse to work with them.
It is the way Leftists do things. You can bet that if the case was against the Federal government, and they would have lost, the Feds would stall until they were all dead, even the grandkids.
Subotai Bahadur
I hope tonight they are ordering a diamond encrusted marquee “Gibsons” sign.
Maybe a special sale for “buy one bottle of wine get one free” for black Oberlin students.
Perhaps the bakery could offer a delicious “Humble Pie” to Meridith Raimindo.
That’s taken the sting out of the Queen passing away…a little 😊 👑 👸
it is a shame the departed gibsons could not be here for this day–nevertheless, wherever they are and also to the gibsons who are still with us, thank you
you and your family’s courage and determination are an example for us all
I’m sure you could drop a check off at the bakery. Do remember to get a receipt.
I recently sent the Gibsons $72 and got a hat and a T-shirt. I would expect Oberlin to at least get a “hoodie,” being symbolic and all.
I’m actually wearing my Gibson’s shirt today!
I actually went grocery shopping with my two Gibson’s Bakery canvas bags today. I’m so glad they’re finally getting the money to keep them afloat.
My wife bought a hat for me and a T shirt for herself to hopefully help tide them over until the settlement is paid and they’re fiscally sound again. Special thanks to whoever came up with that suggestion! It doesn’t hurt that We have the same Surname (but as far as we know aren’t related):
My ancestor was 1 of 3 brothers that came
from Scotland to Charleston, SC at the end of the 2nd great migration from Scotland, with my namesake, their Dad, staying in the old country.
Too small of a family to meet the Muster Requirements for their own clan, Gibson is a subset of Clan Buchanan and wears their fall colored Tartan. We’re proud hard, working and friendly, but stubborn and can’t be moved, when we believe we’re in the right.
BTW, both of my parents (now deceased) were of Scots roots (snicker if you understand the joke – “The Scots were great at breaking in and civilizing the frontier lands – But they weren’t worth a damn at living in a civilized land)
My hat arrived earlier this week.
ABOUT TIME!! I am so pleased for the Gibson family.
“Oberlin College still appears not to understand or accept what it did wrong.”
“If you don’t learn from your mistakes, they become regrets.” – John Cena
“If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you’re doomed to repeat them.” anonymous
Oberlin has been in a death spiral for some time. My prediction is that their national ranking will drop a couple of places a year from now until they are just a memory.
I will leave it to LI to publish the complete, somewhat comical, email just sent to the alumni.
This excerpt though really indicates the level of denial of reality that is present:
“While this outcome is a disappointment, our financial plans for this possibility, which included insurance coverage, mean that this payment will not impact or diminish our academic or student life experience, or require us to draw down Oberlin’s endowment.”
I guess they forgot about the millions and millions spent on lawfare over the last 6 years when they were reporting dudget shortfalls. Makes one wonder what it would take to make an “impact.”
Doubtful…the rankings are incestuous and often filled out by college presidents.
Plus, the enrollment quality and in some cases quantity is declining nationwide, so there will be a relative effect on all colleges.
Higher Ed is the new public school.
They will just raise tuition and other charges to the students to offset any costs. There will also be a group of people from all over the country and the world that will gladly send them checks or take out loans to pay Oberlin College to continue the indoctrination process that started in their homes growing up.
There is also a group of well healed alumni who are totally committed to the cause who will write large checks when called upon.
Long overdue but at least now the rest of the Gibson family can move on and as I said before move somewhere else because I doubt Oberlin is going to be nice to them after finally being forced to pay.
I will believe that Oberlin is concerned about the Oberlin business community when it orders from Gibsons!!!!!
This.
Hopefully they use the money to move to a location where they’re not at the whim of a hostile university’s students and faculty.
“….move to a location where they’re not at the whim of a hostile university’s students and faculty.”
This.
The water is poisoned for the family in that small minded crowd. There will be subtle and not so subtle bashing from the libtards forever. They are not good sportsmen who will ever forgive and forget.
Hallelujah!
No apology given. Evil never does.
From an Ambar letter to alumni:
“While this outcome is a disappointment, our financial plans for this possibility, which included insurance coverage, mean that this payment will not impact or diminish our academic or student life experience, or require us to draw down Oberlin’s endowment.
That rather surprises me, if Oberlin had such good insurance coverage that they have to come up with no cash now from the endowment. Perhaps Oberlin had to put up money out of the endowment at another time and this is misleadingly worded? Given the phrase quoted above, “Oberlin’s Board of Trustees has decided not to pursue the matter further” it does not seem that the insurance company was driving the bus in legal matters, as you would expect if they were on the hook for most of the amount. Something seems odd here, particularly since Ambar. seems to have closed the door on related fundraising. Maybe they did get some very wealthy Alums, like Jim Burrows (Class of 1962, “Cheers”), to put up the money.
I have long suspected that there was a back-room arrangement by some alumni to front an agenda with college being the middleman. I bet said alumni were none too pleased with the WTF amount handed down by the jury. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Not firing anyone for this will ultimately be worse for the college. As we like to say, “you can’t punish a drunk any worse than just allowing them to continue drinking.” So, Oberlin, tie one on and let us all know how its working out for you.
Raimondo was essentially allowed and encouraged to seek employment elsewhere.
Also, their current pres is an idiot and an aa hire, but she was not president when it happened. That president resigned…partially in disgrace but also because he was just done.
Ambar became President roughly 6 months after the incident. The last 5.5 years are on her. I think that she could have gotten out of this for under $10M for all costs, instead of the high $40’s counting legal fees. IMO Krislov resigned because he had had it with the progressive idiocy – many incidents over the years. He is now President at Pace.
She is an idiot and an AA hire but I’ll bet she doesn’t do anything nearly as stupid as the previous administration did. I also believe that a lot of other colleges will think twice before allowing radical idiots to act out like Oberlin did. This is a win for the nation as a whole.
I’ve never understood why Ambar didn’t immediately try to settle this upon her taking the reigns. She’s a lawyer by training. She wants to build bridges to the community. She represented a fresh start for Oberlin; the opportunity to leave Krislov’s legacy behind. I just don’t get it. Is someone leaning on her?
Also, I don’t think insurance covers illegal activity or incompetent business decisions. At least not ordinary insurance policies. Maybe the college’s Soros connections will pay for this.
I honestly view Ambar as a token front person whose race and gender make her immune to criticism. By default, if you don’t like her, then you are a racist. What this case highlighted is that the “call someone a racist as a kneejerk reaction to everything” did not work on the Gibsons, and it is starting to work less and less everywhere. They have chicken-little’d themselves into a corner by overusing it.
If this were such a huge and important case for the history books, then why has it only been mentioned to the alumni twice in nearly 5 years. Once when Varner sent out her “classic, one for the ages” email, and the one by Ambar on Thursday. If there are others then they aren’t in my mailboxes. If anything, the administration, in my opinion, has been trying to hide this from the alumni. Most of the alumni live in the real world and thus would wonder why it was pursued in the first place. Oberlin picked a stupid fight, like say a bully trying to establish and maintain territory, and one solid punch to the nose has basically removed them from ever having any status.
As I see it, they are no longer one of the kool kids. Their legacy is now being the ones who “had it handed to them by a much weaker foe.” Oberlin is about to discover that most alumni have a greater fondness for glazed whole wheat donuts than for their profs. Gibsons is our first stop when we hit town. In the past few years I have noticed an absence of reporting about alumni donations. No longer do we see “class 0f xxxx” makes largest donation in college history headlines. Sure, WuFlu might have had an impact here, but I think it has more to do with the mature adult alumni starting to experience WTF reactions when dealing with Oberlin. There is simply no way that you can spin spending millions and millions on lawyers to win a $200K lawsuit which could have been avoided in the first place with a timely apology. Note: still no apology.
While there is very little in the actual Oberlin subreddit, in r/news there are a couple thousands posts that all fall in the WTF category. Oberlin might have some pull in the MSM, but not the interwebz. Just wait until the 4chan crowd hears about this. 😉
I know. When I read that this didn’t affect their endowment I was taken aback, too. But then a thought struck me. I know this is going to sound like crazy talk, but hear me out. Just spitballing here. But maybe, just maybe…
they’re lying.
I know, I know, it’s impossible to imagine a crowd of this caliber who just spent years obsessively trying to make a baseless allegation against the Gibson family like Ahab hunting the Great White Whale but, again, hear me out.
Would a crowd that just can’t admit it was wrong be eager to honestly admit anything about their course of action was self-destructive?
They spent 6 years pursuing an absolutely despicable course of action. I’d say insane, but it seems there was a madness to their method. They hoped to simply outlast the Gibsons and make them give up first.
I don’t know if that is a legally sound theory, but since when did Carmen Twillie Ambar et al listen to sound legal advice? I know what the consequences would be if officers of a publicly traded company lied in a prospectus. But perhaps there are none if a private college lies to the public about there financial condition. So they might be able to get away with claiming this case didn’t hurt them at all financially when in fact it did.
They can maintain a brave front in public, that what appeared to outsiders to be a stupid, inexplicable course of action was in fact not as stupid as it looked. As the letter to the alumni claims, their planning for this contingency worked perfectly. So they all deserve to keep their leadership jobs (of course lying to the alumni might bring consequences but then why would they start thinking anything through at this point in their lives; they haven’t so far).
Then when they crawl back to their bedrooms they can cry in private.
I don’t know. At times it was hard to tell the administration from the student body. They all seemed to be the same emotional age throwing the same inane tantrum. Since I was more mature than this crowd when I was 18 I was trying to remember how I might have handled this when I was 6. The answer was, “better.” I could at least apologize when I was wrong when I was 6.
I’m overjoyed that the Gibsons will finally get their settlement money. In even better news, the Oberlin administration apparently has learned nothing. While I don’t believe they didn’t have to dip into their endowment, hopefully they’ll repeat the mistake until they destroy it.
“It doesn’t affect our endowment. Only about half of the unrestricted part.”
Using liberal math, the endowment was not affected. Much like my Raisin Nut Bran going from $4.49 to $6.99, a 9.3% increase according to Biden et al. I am thinking that 9.3% will at some point replace “42.” 😉
YAY!
Hopefully my buckeyes will be delivered soon. 🙂
The Buckeyes I received were magnificent.
Finally, now do yourselves a favor and use it to move where you’re not surrounded by a bunch of stupid communists.
It is a cancer. It is everywhere. There is no point in trying to run.
Insurance doesn’t cover punitive damages. So where are they getting that money from?
Likely some leftist moron (redundant, I admit!) moneybags alumni put up the money and will get away with writing if off their taxes.
You are correct. Insurance generally does not cover punitive damages. Insurance also generally does not pay for intentionally caused damage, as well. But some general liability policies do cover claims for defamation and/or related torts under their “Personal Injury” (what its called, but its kind of a misnomer) coverage.
Do we know that Oberlin had insurance? (As opposed to the insurance entity that facilitate the appeal bond. The bonding entity did not assume any primary obligation to pay anything).
If so, do we know whether the insurer is paying for any portion of the judgment?
It may well be that Oberlin itself is going to pay for the whole judgment, and then will need to sue its insurer to recover some portions of the monies it paid.
Lexington Insurance Company filed a motion to intervene “in this action for the limited purpose of submitting interrogatories to the jury in order to determine facts at issue in this action that would impact coverage under its policy.” No idea what happened on it.
https://www.scribd.com/document/412749312/Gibson-s-Bakery-v-Oberlin-College-Lexington-Ins-Co-Motion-to-Intervene
I wonder how this might apply to Raimondo. She was a named defendant. How are the damages apportioned?
they have an endowment of almost a billion $$$$$$
I would go after them for the additional legal fees from all the appeals as well
I am glad the payment will finally be made. That should serve as enough vindication; were I a Gibson, I’d find a nice beach house and relax. They’ve lost enough already.
Well, perhaps in their mind “Zurich North America” is an insurance company. I doubt that Oberlin could see the truth these days even using the Webb Telescope.
OK, too much fun, time to put on my Gibson’s ballcap and get to work. Snark doesn’t pay the bills, yet.
Is it unseemly to gloat? I don’t care.
As a wise Community Agitator often said: “Punch back twice as hard.”
Is the Obies’ right to shoplift part of the settlement?
Yes, given what a bunch of brazen thieves much of the student population of Oberlin boasts of being, I don’t know why Gibson’s, or any other local business, would want to have them back in their store.
Considering this is the reason this entire case took root, was when David Gibson refused to negotiate with the President of Oberlin, that he would not call the police and file a theft report, but to call them and they would settle up with the “brazen” student(s) and financially cover the theft. And he said NO.
I don’t think there WAS even an offer to financially cover the theft.
The only thing I recall hearing was that Oberlin was trying to demand that they just call the college instead of the police, with the clear implication that there would be no actual punishment, and offered no actual incentive to do so.
I believe that is correct.
Yes, Krislov wanted them to call the college instead of the police.
Now THAT is “respect for the law and the integrity of our legal system”.
At a minimum they should apologize to every last donor and to the dummies next time they raise tuition!
Thank you, Professor Jacobson, for your stellar coverage and legal analysis of this case, over several years. Your posts were always enlightening with regard to the legal issues and larger sociopolitical/cultural issues at play.
Oberlin’s dishonest and victimhood-claiming legal posture reflected the obnoxiousness, callousness, dishonesty and arrogance that are intrinsic to so-called “woke,” contemporary Dumb-o-crat narcissists who believe that their “social justice” rhetoric and lexicon grant them carte blanche to lie, slander and vilify people with impunity — civility, legal responsibilities and truth be damned. If a smarter, more humble and less obnoxious administrator had presided over Oberlin, this entire matter could have been settled, pre-trial, as it should have been.
Congratulations to the Gibson family . What a relief! Congratulations also to LI for a stupendous job covering this ordeal.
Among the lunatic aspects is that Oberlin’s chief internal counsel now has that same job at Cornell. Insane.
The defense by Oberlin College and its legal team was pathetic. Oberlin College would have been much better off if it had not defended itself at all.
But even now, Oberlin College has learned nothing and shows no signs of doing any soul searching.
I’ve pointed out before, this was an absolutely textbook example of the reason that any large organization should have TWO legal teams. One to advise them on day-to-day legal matters, and an entirely separate team to defend them in court.
When the same team giving you advice is defending you in court, they have a vested interest in ‘proving’ that their previous legal advice that landed them in court was justified, and aren’t necessarily operating in the organization’s best interests.
“Oberlin College has … shows no signs of doing any soul searching.”
They would have better luck waiting for Godot.
“We are disappointed by the Court’s decision…This matter has been painful for everyone.”
Don’t libel innocent citizens to alibi your lowlife students, and you shouldn’t have a problem.
Seems simple enough.
I’ll believe the money is moving when the Gibsons actually have it.
They’ve “initiated payment”. Is that another way of saying the check’s in the mail?
Game plan should be: 1. Cash the check. 2. Pay the lawyers. 3. Call the moving company. 4. Find a realtor in Florida. 5. Look at Oberlin in the rearview mirror.
Don’t think so! It was never about the money. It did become about the money when that was the only way to get Oberlin’s attention on just how immoral their actions became. They have a legacy in their community and now will be able to continue. They are not ones who roll up their tents and move. There is a third generation still there running the operation. Only now, his Mom can step back with the revenue to catch up and re-stock. In fact they have an national clientele which they may choose to expand and market to and the resources to do so.
That is a pollyanne-ish view. Reality is that the business is done. She should sell what she can and move on. The business (as reported) has been failing since this happened. The big customer (directly and indirectly) was the college. Without that substantial base the business is going to remain in the red. Mom is about 65, she should retire. Why continue to be at work at 3 am to bake items that aren’t selling? The judgment proceeds aren’t revenue. Sales are revenue. She would be subsidizing the operation. There is no good business reason to subsidize this business anymore.
I don’t say these things to be mean. I am in the business of telling people the reality of their situation and what they need to address (legally). I spent this afternoon with a 24 year old who started hospice care yesterday and has a 2 year old who’s mother died from an overdose when daughter was 11 months. He won’t live to see Halloween. It’s my job to see the reality he doesn’t want to see.
Totally agree.
In Mrs. Gibson’s recent public letter, she said she would restore the operation. My guess is that she emotionally can’t follow your advice, with over a century in the community and husband and father-in-law dying during this period. Furthermore, life is not always about money, especially when you have it. IMO she will actually be happier if she gives it a (likely failing) shot with a million or two (of maybe $15+M proceeds) and then lives another 20 years never saying, “I wish that I had tried.”
(What an awful situation you describe.)
Lorna wants to modernize the equipment and the business. With modern equipment and modernizing operations and maybe some streamlining they can rebound, They may never get the college back as a customer but I think they can become a viable business once again. I think that much will fall on young Allyn as to what the long term future of the business will become.
Non corporate bakers are a dying breed but there will always be a market for quality, homemade goods and services.
Yeah. Pretty much this. Ultimately I suspect Gibsons and Oberlin are both done.
I respect that she is going to attempt to continue the store, but in the end I don’t see it being successful.
This was a victory, but a bittersweet one.
There is no amount of money to make the Gibsons whole again. The judgement was a message to Oberlin not to do this again.
So many normal and noble-minded people adore the Gibson’s stand, and also their bakery.
It makes much more sense to hold firm and use the money and massive national goodwill to restore and market the business.
Older Oberlin graduates and alumni are often ‘classical liberals’ whom have fond memories of Gibson’s and whom also (think RFK, JFK, MLK types) actually support equal protection under the law. This is wind in their sails to push back against the Marxist/woke takeover.
Stand firm. Don’t keep surrendering the country to Marxists and racists.
Dear Obies,
Today, Oberlin College and Conservatory initiated payment in full of the $36.59 million judgment in the Gibson’s Bakery case, an amount that represents the awarded damages and interest owed. Please see the college’s public statement below.
While this outcome is a disappointment, our financial plans for this possibility, which included insurance coverage, mean that this payment will not impact or diminish our academic or student life experience, or require us to draw down Oberlin’s endowment.
Like me, the majority of the campus was not here at the beginning of this matter in 2016. But it is also true that this case has been difficult for all of us who love this institution and its hometown. I am looking forward to all that is ahead, and remain focused on Oberlin’s core mission of providing a truly excellent liberal arts and musical education.
Carmen Ambar Signature
Carmen Twillie Ambar
President
Oberlin College initiates payment of awarded damages in Gibson’s Bakery case
Oberlin College and Conservatory has initiated payment in full of the $36.59 million judgment in the Gibson’s Bakery case and is awaiting payment information from the plaintiffs. This amount represents awarded damages and accumulated interest, and therefore no further payments are required.
On August 30, the Ohio Supreme Court issued its decision not to hear Oberlin’s appeal. Oberlin’s Board of Trustees has decided not to pursue the matter further.
We are disappointed by the Court’s decision. However, this does not diminish our respect for the law and the integrity of our legal system.
This matter has been painful for everyone. We hope that the end of the litigation will begin the healing of our entire community.
We value our relationship with the City of Oberlin, and we look forward to continuing our support of and partnership with local businesses as we work together to help our city thrive.
Oberlin’s core mission is to provide our students with a distinctive and outstanding undergraduate education. The size of this verdict is significant. However, our careful financial planning, which includes insurance coverage, means that we can satisfy our legal obligation without impacting our academic and student experience. It is our belief that the way forward is to continue to support and strengthen the quality of education for our students now and into the future.
God this is badly needed great news
I want to keep the two Gibson men who fought this through in my thoughts. They defended their family against this gaggle of scumbags at Oberlin. It should never be forgotten that the students of Oberlin college are as morally bankrupt, narccissistic, low life, thieving, self-righteous, lying scumbags as their administrators and professors. Anyone who stands with them now should be ridiculed and shunned.
Indeed, if you are hiring college graduates; maybe anyone who has graduated from Oberlin, or taught/administered at Oberlin, should be given additional skeptical examination.
Subotai Bahadur
That depends. Do you want honest employees or thieves? I know of no college that does more to teach thieving than Oberlin.
Anyone who bankrolls their son or daughter to attend oberlin college needs a reality check.
Any job interviewer worth his salt will see that on the resume ten seconds before they drop it in the bin.
While money alone doesn’t feel like enough for all the Gibson family has endured these last 7 years, it’s welcome news still.
And it could all have been avoided, if the leftilibtards at Oberlin would have stopped digging. Now they’ve got a 36 and a half million dollar hole.
“and is awaiting payment information from the plaintiffs”
I wonder how long they intend to drag out *that* process.
Oberlin College in the town of Gibson, Ohio has a nice ring to it. Perhaps the townspeople might consider a name change.
Any employer thinking about hiring an Oberlin student/graduate should rethink that decision.
Heaven forbid that might think about spending someone else’s money… but it would be exceedingly generous if the Gibson family my give some thought to funding an endowment with The Legal Insurrection Foundation.
Certainly not an obligation nor a duty, just a modest acknowledgment of appreciation 🙂
Unless that includes Gibson’s, this statement is meaningless.
Will Oberlin College stop telling their students not to buy at Gibson’s Bakery? Will they start ordering goods from Gibson’s? Will they punish students who steal from the town’s businesses? Until the administration does their words are meaningless.
Any business that presses charges against student shoplifters will find itself to be Oberlin’s enemy–or at least if the students are black.
Idea: Take the money and start a group purchasing where all local business vendors to Oberlin get a premium to co-op to force Oberlin to purchase everything through Gibson. Gibson takes a little piece and even if they pay some if the settlement just to make the unapologetic work with them. It would be fun to see how Oberlin idiots react.
Um . . . no. What you’re proposing an antitrust violation.
If they’re waiting for the Gibson’s bank information, they haven’t actually initiated anything. Who knows how long it will be after the Gibson’s send them that information that Oberlin actually pays. Pray that the Gibon’s bank info doesn’t get leaked.
The funds will be paid by check. What the Gibsons do with the check is beyond the scope of Oberlin’s treasurer. Everyone wants to keep a nice, neat audit trail in such matters.
You probably also believe that Trump won and that the Dems stole the 2020 election.
Banks tend to keep more accurate records than socialist ballot recycling facilities.
As to who one the election? Is that not determined by the Electoral College? Such a blessing Joe Biden has been to the socialist democrats and America is richer for it!
Oh dear Lord, please help me remember how to use language… “As to who won the election”.
I heard about this case not long before it went to trial and have been following it ever since, mostly on legal insurrections website. I enjoy coming back here to read other articles but have been very interested and obsessed with The Gibson situation and their situation. I Live in the south east, but sympathize with their point in fighting the liberal lies and extortion that they perpetrate on other people.
How fitting that I read an article today about a bunch of people going there for lunch to help them out and then tonight we see that the money is finally coming due. God bless them.
By the way, FIRE just released its rankings of free speech at colleges and universities.
Oberlin ranks 135th out of 203 institutions included in this year’s rankings.
https://rankings.thefire.org/rank
Lawsuits don’t end apology, they end in payment.
Filing a lawsuit doesn’t want the court to say enough is enough; filing a lawsuit is itself the expression of enough is enough.
The lawsuit settlement is beyond that entirely.
I looked at the IRS Form 990 for Oberlin College for 2019. Insurance Expense on line 23, Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses is $0. The amount of $0 seems a bit strange, given the statement issued by Oberlin College.
Maybe no one will insure them.
Yes. Can you go back to the year before the Dean of Students encouraged a riot? They probably had an appropriately large insurance expense, but then the insurance company realized it wasn’t large enough, and in fact they should have been charging something like $37 million for $36 million worth of coverage. Since they can’t do that, they refused to renew the policy, and let enough of the news get out that no other insurance company would take Oberlin’s money, either. That did not get them off the hook for whatever was covered of the original incident, but it prevented Oberlin costing them more with more outrageous actions.
1) To all student shoplifters (whether you were here when the lawsuit started or not, please boycott Gibson Bakery, and go somewhere else.
2) To the current employers of the responsible decision-makers, please consider whether these officials have the sound judgment and fitness of character for continued employment.
3) To all alumni donors, please consider whether further investment in Oberlin makes sense in terms of your ethical standards.
When I saw that the Oberlin president was an angry looking black female in the picture (didn’t know who was president before) the attempt to destroy Gibson’s now makes sense to me. The alumni should raise Hell and seek her removal and stop donating until she’s gone. Of course, she’ll scream racism if removed which would be a given. A $36 million payment due to her arrogance.
“this payment will not impact or diminish our academic or student life experience”
Uncharacteristically this statement from Oberlin is true, because those experiences are already worthless.
” To that end, Lorna is willing to meet with President Ambar and her senior staff to discuss resumption of a long-term relationship whenever the College feels appropriate”
When Hell freezes over as SJW Affirmative Action hires are not the forgiving type preferring to drown in their vindictive ignorance.
If I were an employer, I would have doubts about any job applicant who graduated from Oberlin. “Does this individual feel entitled to steal? To lie? Cheat? Defame? Commit assault?”
Let this be an example to all the “woke” institutions who permit themselves to succumb to the whining of their snowflake students and allow themselves to be dragged into silly protests over nonsensical issues. They should remember they’re allegedly the adults in the room who are supposed to teach these children. This was an expensive lesson for teachers and students which could have been avoided. Heads should roll!
I am not entirely convinced that this was initiated by the students. For those of us who have been following this for nearly 6 years, (a local Ohio friend emailed me a few days after the election to give me a heads up and I discovered LI through an early google search), there have been a whole slew of different angles as to exactly what was going on, when, for what reason, and by whom. Those who have gotten here recently probably don’t know about the very early interference run by an unknown member of the board of trustees who arranged for the shoplifter to go to Columbus to see a criminal attorney. The BoT seems to have an early and deep interest in this incident. Then we have the side story of the college coveting some parking spaces owned/managed by David Gibson, and how causing a financial distress might get those spaces on the real estate market. Then we have the changing of the guard with Krislov bailing and Twilley arriving in the middle of the mess. How many of us thought in the first year that the college was just going to stonewall them into submission?
I know that this is a Yuge ask, but, if LI could put all of the Gibson’s related posts URL’s in a dedicated chronological thread, I am sure that those of us who have commented here, A LOT, would love to go back and look at how our early hypotheses and other predictions played out. I remember there was a lot of speculation going on as the trial played out and we learned more about Oberlin’s duplicity. IIRC, I believe that I was at $3M damages and $6M punitive when the jury went out, and was shocked first by the $11M, and then more so by the $33M a week later. I am sure that we all remember where we were when Varner sent out her post verdict email. Could it get any better? And it did! Also note that the initial suit, IIRC, was for 4 different items at $50K each. Only Oberlin could spend $6,5M defending against a $200K lawsuit!!!! With the right actors, this could be just as compelling as “The Big Short” with regard to sheer stupidity bulldozing its way through the legal process.
And who knows, maybe an alumni backlash will really ramp things up. I don’t think that any of them who can do simple math are going to buy a second of Twillies statement that it was all covered by careful financial planning and that the endowment won’t need to be touched. The only way that could happen is if big donors step in, and if so, were any of those big donors calling the shots and using the college name to further their own agenda. I think that we are far from seeing this disappear. During Watergate my dad lectured us on how “it is never the crime, it is always the cover-up.” I really do feel that writing the check is just the end of a chapter, and that the story will continue. $50M doesn’t just go “poof” without some serious questions getting asked.
The full set of articles Legal Insurrection associated with this case can be found by clicking on the “Oberlin College – Gibson’s Bakery” tag that shown within the header for the comments section of this article (this is shown as a yellow bar) which just above the first comment.
Kudos for your coverage of a trial and post trial proceedings that truly proved that woke institutions have zero interest in working together or partnering with their surrounding environment,. I hope that Gibson’s stays open and that Oberlin’s administration , faculty and students realize that the onus is on them to make amends to a local institution that Oberlin attempted to destroy with its well documented millions for defense ,not a cent for tribute, delay and burn all the bridges legal strategy
Congratulations to LI for highlighting an evil injustice.
David can still beat Goliath.
Keep up the good work.
Wonderful news!!!!!! Thank you for championing Gibson’s Bakery, Professor Jacobson.
I’ll believe they have paid when and only when the bakery announces the money is in the bakery bank account!
You bring up an interesting point… who gets how much? I do not think that the corporation will be getting all of the money or that there will even be one check written.
Does anyone have a copy of the court’s judgment(s) that sets out how the awards are to be allocated?
I read the Gibson’s lawyers were on cointingency at 40%, but I’m not sure 40% of what.
There is a God!
I could see Lorna continue to run the bakery for another 10 years. As for her children, that’s another story . . .
Interesting that that they are telling students and alumni that they were prepared for this eventuality and it will have no impact on the educational experience, while just after the verdict was handed down, they claimed poverty and were forced to purchase a surety bond. Some is lying . . .
The final sad fact is that Raimondo will not see jail time . . .
We need to bring back the Expert Witness Assessor and see if he still stands by his $35,000 valuation of the bakery. Seriously peeps, reading those old posts has been a wonderful trip down memory lane. “What were they thinking?” is what we were saying in foresight. Even in 2018 most of us were saying “when, not if, Gibsons wins the case.”
I’m glad.
I read the lower appeals decision. Nasty bit of a wakeup call seeing what that bakery was worth and why. This is a win for the principle that our actions have consequences.