Jerry Falwell Jr. is back in the headlines, but this time it’s not for scandalous pool boys. Instead, he’s suing Liberty University for $8.5 million in retirement benefits that he claims they owe him.
Falwell left Liberty in August 2020 after Giancarlo Granda, a former pool boy turned business partner of the Falwell family, came forward with allegations of a sexual relationship with Falwell’s wife, Becki. Granda also claimed Falwell participated as a voyeur, which rocked the conservative Christian community.
The scandal led to Falwell’s resignation without cause as president of Liberty and a defamation lawsuit he filed against the school, which he later dropped. Liberty also sued Falwell in 2021, alleging that he negotiated his contract without disclosing the Granda scandal.
The whole story was the subject of Hulu’s God Forbid.
Now, Falwell is striking back against the university, claiming that Liberty wrongfully denied him the retirement benefits he’s owed. The lawsuit alleges his retirement account totaled over $8.5 million, with an additional 6 percent annual investment return that he and the university negotiated in 2019.
“Liberty wrongfully has denied and withheld the benefits to which Mr. Falwell is entitled, despite Mr. Falwell meeting every requirement set forth in the [Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan] for payment of the benefits due on September 1, 2022,” the lawsuit filed on March 8 states.
Falwell’s complaint also details the ways in which he helped Liberty University build its reputation and increase profits, citing his leadership and fundraising efforts.
