The jury verdict against Oberlin, a brief comment

A number of readers have written me about this case.

Large jury verdicts for libel at the trial level are not uncommon, and are frequently overturned on appeal, as I expect this will be, on First Amendment grounds.  But the verdict about tortious interference with contract is a different matter, and that may survive.  (This is a strange tort, but plaintiffs sometimes prevail on it, with dramatic results.)  This is all unfortunate publicity for Oberlin College, of course, which has a track record of students doing foolish things.