Ohio Supreme Court declines to hear Gibsons, Oberlin College appeals

The Ohio Supreme Court had declined to hear appeals filed by both Oberlin College and Gibson's Bakery in their long-running legal case. "Upon consideration of the jurisdictional memoranda filed in this case, the court declines to accept the jurisdiction of the appeal or cross-appeal," Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor wrote in a judgment entry issued Tuesday. The decision was 4-3, with O'Connor and justices Sharon Kennedy, Patrick Fischer, and Pat DeWine declining to accept the appeals. Justices Michael Donnelly, Melody Stewart and Jennifer Brunner dissented. Brunner also would have accepted the cross-appeal by the Gibsons, according to court documents. The family bakery has asked the courts to force Oberlin College to pay it and its attorneys the more than $36 million they were awarded after winning a civil lawsuit against the college that went to trial more than three years ago in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. A jury decided that the college defamed the Gibsons and their business and awarded a $44 million judgment in 2019. Judge John Miraldi reduced that to $25 million, because Ohio law limits monetary damages in civil cases. The bakery also was awarded more than $6.5 million in attorney fees, and millions of dollars in interest has been collecting on the judgment as well. "On behalf of the Gibson family and the trial team, truth still matters, David can still overcome Goliath," the Gibsons and their attorneys said in a statement sent to The Chronicle-Telegram. "We and the Gibson family are gratified that all judges on the court of appeals and the majority of the Ohio Supreme Court recognized the rights of individuals rather than the bullying tactics of the big institutions," they said. The college released a statement through a spokesperson Tuesday: "Oberlin is disappointed that the Ohio Supreme Court has chosen not to hear our appeal of the Gibson's Bakery judgment against the college," the college said. "The issues raised by this case have been challenging, not only for the parties involved, but for the entire Oberlin community." "We remain committed to strengthening the partnership between the College, the City of Oberlin and its residents, and the downtown business community. We will continue in that important work while remaining focused on our core educational mission," the college said. The Gibsons and their attorneys said the college "tried to frame this case with claims and issues that weren't on trial." "This has never been a case about a student's First Amendment rights. Individuals' reputations should never be sacrificed at a false altar of free speech," the Gibsons and their attorneys said in a subsequent statement. "The Gibsons and the entire state of Ohio should appreciate that the jury, a unanimous Ninth District Court of Appeals, and a majority of the justices on the Ohio Supreme Court recognized that the deplorable conduct of Oberlin College could not be camouflaged by misleading claims of free speech," the statement read. "The jury recognized Oberlin College's bullying tactics. The students admitted their misconduct, but Oberlin College could never admit that they were wrong. They presumed that they could bring the Gibsons to their knees. The power of truth has enabled the Gibson family to survive Oberlin's onslaught," the statement concluded. This is a developing story. Follow The Chronicle-Telegram for more.