BOISE, Idaho — In a significant legal victory, Sarah Jo Fendley, the former owner of Big City Coffee, won a lawsuit against two senior Boise State University administrators for infringing on her First Amendment rights. The jury decision issued late Friday awarded Fendley $4 million in damages, concluding a nine-day trial that spotlighted the intersection of free speech and campus politics.
The case originated from an incident in 2020, when Fendley alleged that her support for law enforcement led to the forced closure of her coffee shop’s campus location. The controversy centered on her public endorsement of the “Thin Blue Line,” a symbol associated with police solidarity, which some students contested following the events surrounding George Floyd’s death in Minnesota.
The legal battle began formally in 2021 when Fendley filed a $10 million tort claim against the university and specific officials, accusing them of capitulating to student unrest and violating her rights under both the Idaho Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Constitution. The trial featured testimony from various university officials and witnesses, peering into the campus dynamics and administrative decision-making processes.
The jury found Leslie Webb, former Vice President for Student Affairs and current University of Montana administrator, not only liable for the contract termination but also responsible for punitive damages amounting to $1 million. The remaining $3 million was awarded for business losses, emotional distress, and damage to Fendley’s reputation.
Throughout the trial, evidence was presented, including audio recordings of meetings between Fendley and university officials, and testimony that illuminated the university’s handling of student complaints about the coffee shop. Michael Roe, Fendley’s attorney, argued that his client was unfairly targeted for her political views, which ultimately led to her financial and personal suffering.
Roe emphasized Fendley’s significant contributions to the Boise community, from her support for local produce to her charity work, contrasting her collegiate education with the university leaders’ advanced degrees. He stressed that the case was not about ideological differences but about the mistreatment of a small business owner by high-ranking university officials.
On the defense side, Keely Duke, representing Webb and Alicia Estey, Boise State’s chief financial and operating officer, indicated plans to appeal the verdict to the Idaho Supreme Court. Duke defended her clients by asserting their adherence to First Amendment protections and arguing that the decision to end Big City Coffee’s campus contract was not influenced by student pressures but was a compliance with broader administrative policies.
Moreover, Duke suggested that if university officials were truly succumbing to student demands, they would have also terminated their contract with the Boise Police Department, which they did not. She highlighted this point to counter claims that Webb and Estey unfairly targeted Fendley and her business.
The ruling raises important questions about the limits of free speech on campus and the role of university administrators in balancing diverse and often conflicting stakeholder interests. It also underscores the ongoing debate over how expressions of political beliefs, particularly those perceived as controversial, are handled in educational environments that themselves are battlegrounds for broader societal issues.
As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of this case might influence how universities across the nation manage similar conflicts, ensuring that the rights of individuals are safeguarded while fostering an inclusive and respectful academic community.