[Wash Times] A judge has awarded about $6.5 million in attorney's fees and court costs to Gibson's Bakery, the family-owned Ohio doughnut shop that won a $25 million judgment against Oberlin College over protests accusing the business of racism.Lorain County Judge John Miraldi made the ruling on fees Wednesday, bringing the total award against Oberlin to nearly $32 million. Oberlin attorneys have indicated that they plan to appeal, according to the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
Last month, Gibson's Bakery won a $44 million jury verdict for libel and wrongful business interference over Oberlin's involvement in student protests that labeled the bakery racist after three black students were arrested for shoplifting in November 2016.
The $44 million judgment was later reduced to $25 million under Ohio's tort-cap law, but the enormous award has fueled a debate over the responsibility of colleges in protecting student free speech versus promoting an overheated social-justice protest narrative.