A question about Falwell's threatened lawsuits against Liberty University

[PJMcK]

News reports indicate that Jerry Falwell, Jr. is threatening to sue Liberty University for defamation of character and other wrongs.

Why is he doing this?

If the process were to proceed, discovery would be hugely embarrassing for Falwell. Liberty would be able to dig into every corner of his life. He'll be humiliated and would probably not prevail in court.

Are the suits threats that his lawyers think will get them a financial settlement? Is he looking for a final payout? Does he think he can get his job back? Is his wife pissed that he's blown their free ride?

I just can't fathom his motivation.

Thanks, in advance, for any insights.

[Sherman A1]

1. Most likely more bullying

thought the legal process to get more $s.

[PJMcK]

4. Yeah, it's $$$

But his case, superficially, seems like a long shot. I don't understand the risk/reward. I also can't see his long-term plan to rehabilitate himself.

Time will tell.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Money.

He’s a grifter, conman liar, he doesn’t care about what anybody thinks of him he just wants money like Rump traitor

[Jose Garcia]

3. Liberty probably doesn't want this stuff dragged out in the public either

They are going to pay to make him go away. The only question is how much.

[PJMcK]

6. Good point

Although I do think Liberty might fight back because they're in a fairly strong position.

But, as always, money talks except when money hushes things up.

[ehrnst]

5. Maybe he knows things that Liberty U does NOT want made public. (nt)

[PJMcK]

7. Now there's a thought!

That hadn't occurred to me.

Thanks, ehrnst!

[RockRaven]

8. Liberty U can save money by just giving him a little payoff...

He's basically extorting them, with their potential lawyers' fees as the threat. Even if/when they win and he gets publicly disgraced, they will have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorneys. He threatens a lawsuit, then gets a fraction of that money as a quick settlement to avoid the longer/more expensive process.

[PJMcK]

10. Yep, it's almost always about the green (n/t)

[PoliticAverse]

9. People "threaten" lawsuits all the time, this is usually to convince some people

that they are telling the truth and have been wronged. Often they don't follow up with an actual lawsuit. As Yoda might say "sue or sue not, there is no threaten".

[dv421]

11. Just like

the orange menace threatened to sue every woman who accused him of sexual assault before the 2016 election.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. According to this article he's already filed

Jerry Falwell Jr. is suing Liberty University after his forced resignation over sex scandal

Former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. filed a state lawsuit Wednesday against the evangelical school founded by his father, claiming he was wrongly ousted from his leadership post.

Falwell had led the school for 13 years before he resigned under pressure in late August amid a series of embarrassing scandals.

In a complaint in state court in Lynchburg, Virginia, Falwell's lawyers alleged that Liberty defamed Falwell and breached the former president's contract.

"Mr. Falwell has suffered damage to his reputation, damage to his profession, humiliation, and anguish; lost business opportunities; and suffered other pecuniary damage," according to the plaintiff's complaint.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/jerry-falwell-jr-is-suing-liberty-university-after-his-forced-resignation-over-sex-scandal/ar-BB1avtUp?li=BBnb7Kz