T
he outcome of a lawsuit against a liberal arts college in northern Ohio highlights how little cultural elites have learned from Donald Trump’s shocking 2016 victory.
A jury awarded $11 million in compensatory damages and $33 million in punitive damages (almost certain to be reduced to no more than $22 million) to Gibson’s Bakery in its suit against Oberlin College. The case was heard in Lorain County, a heavily unionized former Democratic stronghold, which Barack Obama carried comfortably twice. The obvious revulsion of the jury for Oberlin College may be a favorable omen for Trump’s reelection bid.
The events leading Gibson’s Bakery and its owners to file suit against Oberlin College and Vice President Dr. Meredith Raimondo for defamation, tortious interference with business relationships, and infliction of emotional damage began November 9, 2016, the day after Trump’s electoral triumph.
Store clerk Allyn Gibson — a grandson of the owner of Gibson’s Bakery, which has been serving the college town since 1885 — rejected the false ID proffered by Oberlin freshman Jonathan Aladin in an attempt to purchase wine. At the same time, Gibson noticed that Aladin had two other bottles of wine hidden under his coat, and he called the police to report the attempted shoplifting. Aladin and two female students fled the store, with Gibson in pursuit. By the time Oberlin town police arrived at the scene, the three students had overcome Gibson and were pummeling him. The three were arrested.
