Gibson's Bakery v. Oberlin College: Bakery asks for maximum damages in punishment phase

ELYRIA — "What does it take for a company worth $1 billion to know you care?" That's the question attorney Lee Plakas asked of the jury in his closing argument today in the punitive damage phase of the Gibson family's lawsuit against Oberlin College and Meredith Raimondo, the college's dean of students. Plakas asked jurors to award up to a maximum of $35 million — $5 million to $8 million in damages to Gibson's Bakery, $6 million to $9 million for Allyn Gibson and $12 million to $18 million for David Gibson. Ohio law limits the amount of punitive damages a jury can award to two times the initial amount for actual or compensatory damages. That puts the maximum amount jurors can award in this case at about $23 million. A Lorain County jury on Friday awarded Gibson family members and the business more than $11 million.Oberlin College attorney Rachelle Zidar made the case for a much smaller amount. Zidar told the jury the college is sorry, is working on improving student behavior and asked the jury not to make a massive award that would impact Oberlin's bottom line. "Allow us to move forward and not go backward." The lawsuit stems from a November 2016 over a shoplifting incident a student tried to buy alcohol with a fake ID and shoplift items. He was chased from the store by Allyn D. Gibson. The two got into an altercation outside, and two more students joined. The students are black, while the Gibsons are white. Following the incident, other students protested, alleging a pattern of racist behavior by the Gibsons, and the college ended its order for baked goods with the store.The students involved in the shoplifting incident all pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, and stated their culpability in court while noting Gibson's reaction was not racially motivated.Gibson's sued the college and Raimondo alleging libel, infliction of emotional distress and interference with business relationships after several days of the protests.Lorain County judge John MIraldi gave the jury its instruction and sent them to deliberate following the lunch break.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.