Former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. has filed a lawsuit against the college in Lynchburg, Virginia, claiming that it owes him $8.5 million in retirement benefits.
Falwell Jr. left Liberty in August 2020, following revelations that Giancarlo Granda, a former pool boy and business partner of the Falwell family, had a long-term sexual relationship with Falwell Jr.’s wife, Becki Falwell.
Granda claimed that Falwell Jr. participated as a voyeur, which scandalized the private evangelical Christian college community.
The lawsuit, filed on March 8, alleges that Liberty University has wrongfully denied and withheld the benefits owed to Falwell Jr., despite him meeting all of the requirements for payment set forth in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.
The complaint also details the various ways Falwell helped the school, founded by his father, Rev. Jerry L. Falwell Sr., build its name and increase its profits.
Falwell Jr. claims that his retirement account totaled over $8.5 million, including an additional 6% annual investment return, which he negotiated with the school in 2019.
The scandal involving the Falwells and Granda rocked the Christian community, resulting in Falwell Jr.’s resignation as president of Liberty without cause in August 2020.
After leaving Liberty, Falwell Jr. filed a defamation lawsuit against the school, which he later dropped.
Liberty University then sued Falwell Jr. in 2021, alleging that he negotiated his contract without disclosing the sex scandal with Granda, which ultimately tainted the school’s image.
The Liberty University lawsuit also claims that Falwell Jr. deceived the board into negotiating a new contract with a higher severance payout if he resigned for a “good reason” or if his contract was terminated without cause.
The lawsuit also alleges that Falwell Jr. “improperly and errantly” told members of the media that he was owed $10.5 million after his departure.
While the Falwells have not denied Becki’s affair with Granda, Falwell Jr. maintains that he did not participate in their relations.
The Falwells have also alleged that Granda, who was a 20-year-old college student when he met the couple, was trying to extort them.
»Jerry Falwell Jr. files lawsuit against Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia«
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