AP: Fawell Suing Liberty U: Says they Damaged His Reputation

Good gravy! The man damaged his own reputation.

He's a public figure. There is a very very high bar to defame a public figure.

Oh man, I wonder what sort of documentation both sides would have to produce if this went to trial. I would back the kickstarter to get all that material released.

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?

7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

1 Corinthians 6 ESV

martin-luther2 said:

Jerry Falwell Jr. has sued Liberty University, alleging the evangelical school founded by his late pastor father damaged his reputation in a series of public statements that followed his resignation as president and chancellor in August amid a series of scandals.

Falwell sues Liberty, saying school damaged his reputation

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I am not a lawyer, but I thought defamation is spreading false rumors about a person. The media regularly reported facts about scandals. When they spread false rumors they might be in trouble. I also know judges and jurys might be corrupt. Some lawyers lied while not under oath.

dqhall said:

I am not a lawyer, but I thought defamation is spreading false rumors about a person. The media regularly reported facts about scandals. When they spread false rumors they might be in trouble. I also know judges and jurys might be corrupt. Some lawyers lied while not under oath.

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For a public figure the bar is that you need to either be knowingly spreading a falsehood, or acting with reckless disregard of whether the statement was false or not.

Arcangl86 said:

For a public figure the bar is that you need to either be knowingly spreading a falsehood, or acting with reckless disregard of whether the statement was false or not.

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Depends on the judge or the jury.

martin-luther2 said:

Jerry Falwell Jr. has sued Liberty University, alleging the evangelical school founded by his late pastor father damaged his reputation in a series of public statements that followed his resignation as president and chancellor in August amid a series of scandals.

Falwell sues Liberty, saying school damaged his reputation

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It's going to be difficult for Falwell to win this case. One wonders what his purpose is at this point. I for one would cheer if he somehow managed to destroy Liberty, with its pathetic education and progressive evangelical social gospel theology. If that's his goal may he be successful. My suspicion though is that Junior is a narcissist, maybe even a sociopath, who wants to control everything and is throwing a fit because he no longer does.

dqhall said:

Depends on the judge or the jury.

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The judge might determine if somebody qualifies as a public figure or not, but that's the legal standard.

Redwingfan9 said:

. I for one would cheer if he somehow managed to destroy Liberty, with its pathetic education and progressive evangelical social gospel theology

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Liberty's progressive evangelical social gospel? I had no idea. I thought it was about as conservative as it gets. If Liberty is progressive, then what is true conservatism supposed to look like?

public hermit said:

Liberty's progressive evangelical social gospel? I had no idea. I thought it was about as conservative as it gets. If Liberty is progressive, then what is true conservatism supposed to look like?

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Historic protestant Christianity, which is nothing like Liberty's evangelical social gospel.

Redwingfan9 said:

Historic protestant Christianity, which is nothing like Liberty's evangelical social gospel.

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What is "evangelical social gospel"?

Arcangl86 said:

What is "evangelical social gospel"?

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Thw evangelicals at Liberty are essential pharisees making up rules that will allegedly save the church and society from sin. Liberty, for example, forbids students from drinking. There is zero Biblical basis for such a demand. They have a number of rules about dating, as though rules will somehow save us from fornication.

Redwingfan9 said:

Thw evangelicals at Liberty are essential pharisees making up rules that will allegedly save the church and society from sin. Liberty, for example, forbids students from drinking. There is zero Biblical basis for such a demand. They have a number of rules about dating, as though rules will somehow save us from fornication.

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Okay, I agree that these kinds of approaches are wrong headed. I just hadn't heard them referred to as the evangelical social gospel. I think I understand why you call it that. Interesting, thanks for the clarification.

Arcangl86 said:

The judge might determine if somebody qualifies as a public figure or not, but that's the legal standard.

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The accusation of reckless misinformation is up to the judge or jury to decide. Some trials are by judge, some are by jury.