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Ohio Court of Appeals issues a decision in the Gibson’s Bakery v. Oberlin College case

[LegalInsurrection] On November 10, 2020, the Court heard oral argument on (1) the appeal by Oberlin College and Dean of Students Meredith Raimando seeking to overturn the compensatory and punitive damage awards totalling, after reduction under Ohio tort reform law, $25 million, plus over $6 million in attorney’s fees, bringing the judgment to over $32 million, and (2) the cross-appeal by Gibson’s Bakery and two members of the Gibson family (including the widow of the late David Gibson) seeking to restore the full $33 million punitive damages award, arguing the tort reform reduction was unconstitutional, which would add back about $15 million to the judgment.

One of the Judges who sat on oral argument, Julie Shafer, was not reelected on November 3, 2020, and was replaced by Judge Betty Sutton, who joined Judges Jennifer Hensal and Donna Carr.

A decision was just issued, written by Justice Carr:

"Appellants, Oberlin College and its Dean of Students, Meredith Raimondo (collectively “Oberlin” or individually “the college” or “Raimondo”), appeal from a judgment of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas that entered judgment against them and awarded compensatory and punitive damages to Gibson Brothers, Inc., Allyn W. Gibson, and David R. Gibson1 (collectively “the Gibsons”). The Gibsons cross-appealed the trial court’s reduction of damages that the jury had originally awarded them. This Court affirms."

Summary: The appeals court ruled Oberlin College has to pay the bakery all the money.