Liberty University Trustees announce settlement agreement with former president Jerry Falwell Jr.
Liberty University announced it has settled a lawsuit brought by former president Jerry Falwell Jr., who resigned in 2020 after a series of scandals, later accusing Liberty of misappropriating his father’s name and image.
In a statement, Liberty’s trustees said they have reached an agreement with Falwell settling all outstanding disputes on both legal and personal matters. The parties have agreed on retirement and severance details and conditions under which the university will use Liberty’s founder, the late Jerry Falwell Sr.'s name, image, and likeness.
“Both the University’s Board of Trustees and Jerry Falwell, Jr. sincerely regret the lengthy and painful litigation process, and each take responsibility for their part in the disputes. The Trustees and Falwell are committed to moving forward in a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation in a Christ-honoring manner,” the statement reads, adding the university will make “no further statements on this matter.”
Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Va., is located on the campus of Liberty, where it was founded. In 2016, the church reportedly had an average weekly attendance of 9,000. The pastor is Jonathan Falwell, the son of Jerry Falwell Sr. and brother of Jerry Falwell Jr.