Oberlin College mass email criticizing Jurors
could influence Punitive Damages Hearing
in Gibson’s Bakery case
Legal Insurrection,
by
William A. Jacobson
Original Article
Posted By: Harlowe,
6/9/2019 12:04:41 PM
There are a lot of things about the way Oberlin College handled the Gibson’s Bakery dispute and lawsuit that have had me wondering who, if anyone, is in control over there.(Snip) In this context, there is nothing more baffling than a statement sent to alumni after the verdict by Donica Thomas Varner, Oberlin College’s Vice President and General Counsel. The statement was contained in a mass email sent to alumni (and possibly others) criticizing the jury verdict and repeating the same stale defenses that failed at trial (emphasis added):(Snip) Procedurally, the email is baffling because the trial is not over.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
SALady 6/9/2019 12:17:39 PM (No. 94387)
I smell the advice of a really sleazy lawyer, who is setting up an appeal based on these prejudicial e-mails that were "innocently" sent out by the college!!!
8 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
JrSample 6/9/2019 12:18:55 PM (No. 94389)
They is mistaken in thinking that libel is protected by the 1st Amendment.
10 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
jeffkinnh 6/9/2019 12:25:12 PM (No. 94399)
Whiny liberal lawyer who thinks that they are right even when the law says they are NOT. It's the same attitude that got them into trouble to begin with. They decided that Blacks were right before they knew the facts. Even once they knew the facts, the college decided they could use intimidation and thugery against someone they didn't like.
21 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Ida Lou Pino 6/9/2019 12:25:30 PM (No. 94400)
Leftists are vicious and evil - - but no one has ever accused them of being smart.
18 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
earlybird 6/9/2019 12:28:04 PM (No. 94403)
With the potential for what has been estimated as an estimated $22 million punitive damages award next week, this was not at all a smart thing to do. All risk, no reward.
It was sent by Donica Thomas Varner, Oberlin College’s Vice President and General Counsel. Oberlin’s staff lawyer.
Here’s Donica: https://www.oberlin.edu/donica-varner
13 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Vaquero45 6/9/2019 12:34:49 PM (No. 94407)
They failed to learn that when you’re in a hole, you should stop digging.
Even if Oberlin has a comprehensive general liability insurance policy, that policy won’t cover punitive damages. If the plaintiffs prevail, Oberlin will be $22,000,000 short.
10 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
earlybird 6/9/2019 12:37:11 PM (No. 94408)
It has already been reported that the original award of $11million is in excess of any liability insurance coverage that Oberlin has. They are in deep doodoo.
13 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
john56 6/9/2019 12:37:38 PM (No. 94409)
The insurance company has already said they wont cover this judgement. Let's see how the Oberlin College "help us pay the verdict" fund raiser gors.
12 people like this.
This is very clever on Oberlin College's part. It's a great way to declare bankruptcy and close the institution. That way they appear to be victims with the added benefit they don't have to deal with whiney kids and their insufferable parents. s/
9 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
ZeldaFitzg 6/9/2019 12:38:54 PM (No. 94412)
The person writing the letter has the first name "Donica." Your first guess is correct.
20 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
NorthernDog 6/9/2019 12:40:56 PM (No. 94413)
In general liberals seem incapable of making rational, dispassionate decisions. They reflexively want revenge and spite heaped on anyone who inhibits their goals. In this case they are digging an even bigger hole for themselves.
13 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
bad-hair 6/9/2019 12:43:56 PM (No. 94415)
I think this is a college town. I think rather than kill the goose they will come to some kind of reasonable agreement. That should include the DISMISSAL of the present college administration forthwith and in total. That should include all parties to this travesty. Gibson's needs to recover their legal and other expenses including the stolen bottles of wine.
7 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
zephyrgirl 6/9/2019 12:44:20 PM (No. 94416)
There's nothing like the arrogance of liberal university administration types who have nothing but contempt for who they perceive to be knuckle-dragging commoners. I'm sure the jury will enjoy reading that email and sticking it to that smug (rhymes with witch) and her equally obnoxious coworkers.
12 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
Sam1 6/9/2019 12:53:58 PM (No. 94420)
Donica is an Affirmitive Action Hire.
17 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
HotRod 6/9/2019 1:22:51 PM (No. 94440)
''Oberlin College which was named Oberlin Collegiate Institute until 1850, is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio. In 1833, Presbyterian ministers John Jay Sipherd and Philo P. Stewart founded the institution as a college preparatory institute to promote Christian values.''
Another institution with a noble past that has been corrupted by the left. The left destroys everything they touch!
20 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
Northcross 6/9/2019 1:26:27 PM (No. 94443)
A quick summary of the e-mail that Oberlin sent to the alumni- "The jurors are stupid deplorables." That should go over well during the discussion on punitive damages.
11 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
curious1 6/9/2019 1:28:51 PM (No. 94444)
Last report I saw was Oberlin had around 800 million in endowments. Even 33 million won't shut them down and they aren't smart enough to change their attitude, given they are SJW (aka NPCs), Affirmative Action losers, regardless of their skin color.
10 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
LadyHen 6/9/2019 1:49:06 PM (No. 94452)
The typical "we the enlightened ones are right, the deplorables are just too ignorant to comprehend" excuse. I am sure the jury will be amused if this goes into evidence. Hoping Oberlin gets smacked down by the max amount and this exceptionally stupid lawyer gets sacked for her obvious to anyone with two functioning brain cells idiocy.
12 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Falconer 6/9/2019 2:40:24 PM (No. 94484)
I would love to be sitting on this jury. I'd give the Gibson's the maximum monetary award possible. This should send a message to other progressive universities who think the law does not apply to them. I hope the sanctimonious punks are put out of the business of educating others.
8 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Nevadadad46 6/9/2019 2:56:25 PM (No. 94505)
The proof is in the letter that the writer of it is a neophyte about the real workings of trial law. Donica Thomas Varner is very likely an affirmative action progressive brought along because she knows how to work the inner ears of elitist supervisors and peers, more than for her legal acumen. "Donica" tells us she is most likely not of very high upbringing. Her letter indicates more awareness of "street" smarts than "Law" smarts. But, certainly, she is the product of a progressive system of Michigan and other universities around the country that have been wrapped in their snob bubbles so long, they have practically lost all sense of reality in America. I sincerely hope Gibson's lawyers succeed and the Jury shoves the punitive damages right up the defendant's stuck-up noses!
9 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
vhs68 6/9/2019 3:10:28 PM (No. 94516)
fyi:
Biography
Donica Thomas Varner is an experienced litigation attorney and higher education law practitioner with over 23 years of professional experience representing and advising public and private employers. Prior to joining Oberlin, Donica served as associate general counsel and practice group leader for the faculty, staff and student legal practice group in the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel at the University of Michigan.
Donica began her legal practice with Detroit based law firms representing public and private employers in the areas of employment and labor law. Donica left private practice to join the legal staff at Wayne State University where she represented the university in trial and appellate courts, regulatory investigations, and labor negotiations. She then joined the legal staff at the University of Michigan in 2002 where her practice focused on student affairs, employment, immigration, litigation, and international engagement issues. She is a graduate of S.H.A.P.E. American High School in Belgium, North Carolina State University with a degree in political science, and the University of Michigan Law School.
1 person likes this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
Krause 6/9/2019 4:25:25 PM (No. 94564)
A big part of having character is owning up to your own actions. The shoplifters may have done so as they did plead guilty, but the faculty and administration certainly failed in that regard, to this day. As an expensive ‘progressive’ school you have to wonder what they do teach.
5 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Bur Oak 6/9/2019 4:27:52 PM (No. 94566)
It might have to be renamed Gibson College.
8 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
bad-hair 6/9/2019 5:35:52 PM (No. 94584)
If I was a Gibson I'd take the 33 M and buy up every inch of real estate surrounding the campus. Just for fun.
7 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
padiva 6/9/2019 8:23:55 PM (No. 94648)
Great idea #25
Can the Gibsons put a lien on the college endowment funds?
The, the college can not access the funds until the Gibsons are paid.
3 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
PChristopher 6/10/2019 1:33:51 AM (No. 94730)
New Yorkers have a wonderful expression to describe Oberlin's actions. It's called being 'Too smart by half'. They just don't get it, but they're going to get it, and I hope they get their heads handed to them in a really big way!
1 person likes this.
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Comments:
As Professor Jacobson points out, that post-verdict email could be Exhibit A at the punitive damages hearing on Tuesday; whether it will be used or not will become clearer on Tuesday.