{"id":2341791,"date":"2024-09-16T11:59:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T15:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coffee-shop-owner-awarded-4-million-after-being-booted-from-boise-state-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-16T12:03:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T16:03:28","slug":"coffee-shop-owner-awarded-4-million-after-being-booted-from-boise-state-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coffee-shop-owner-awarded-4-million-after-being-booted-from-boise-state-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee shop owner awarded $4 million after being booted from Boise State &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcoffee-shop-owner-awarded-4-million-after-being-booted-from-boise-state-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2341791&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An Idaho coffee shop owner, Sarah Jo Fendley, was awarded $4 million after her business was forced off a university campus due to the \u2062display of a pro-police &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/perino-breaks-down-over-bail-reform-tragedy-dont-think-ive-ever-cried-on-tv\/\" title=\"Perino Breaks Down Over \u2018Bail Reform\u2019 Tragedy: \u2018Don\u2019t Think I\u2019ve Ever Cried On TV\u2019\">thin blue line<\/a>&#8221; flag. Fendley had filed a $10 million claim against Boise State University and several\u2064 of its administrators after her contract\u2062 was terminated in 2021. Although most of her claims were \u200cdismissed, the lawsuit against two administrators proceeded and ended in\u2063 her favor. Fendley \u2062expressed gratitude for the verdict, stating that it had been a long struggle. In response, the administrators plan to appeal the decision, \u2062asserting that they were \u2063upholding the First Amendment rights of all parties involved. The awarded\u2064 damages included\u200c $3 million for business losses and emotional distress and \u200b$1 million in punitive damages. The case included significant witness testimonies, culminating in a seven-hour session involving the university&#8217;s\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/byu-rooting-out-racism-task-force-calls-for-race-conscious-religious-curriculum-admissions-standards\/\" title=\"BYU \u2018Rooting Out Racism\u2019 Task Force Calls For \u2018Race-Conscious\u2019 Religious Curriculum, Admissions Standards\">associate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: &#039;Pipeline&#039; to Obama Admin Seen as &#039;Currency&#039;\">vice president<\/a><\/a> \u2064for \u2062campus services. The identity\u200b of who will pay the damages remains unclear.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Idaho coffee shop owner awarded $4 million after being booted from campus<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1689709\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/idaho\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Idaho\">Idaho<\/a> coffee shop owner was awarded $4 million after she moved her <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>business<\/a> off campus due to pressure for flying a pro-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"police\">police<\/a> flag.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Sarah Jo Fendley, the owner of Big City Coffee, filed a $10 million tort claim against Boise State University, BSU President Marlene Tromp, Vice President for Equity Initiatives Francisco Salinas, and BSU administrators Alicia Estey and Leslie Webb in 2021, after her contract with the university was terminated over displaying a pro-police &ldquo;thin blue line&rdquo; flag. While most of the claims were dismissed, the lawsuit against Estey and Webb was given the go-ahead, ending in Fendley&rsquo;s victory on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m thankful that the truth finally came out and grateful to the jury for their time and effort,&rdquo;&nbsp;Fendley said after the ruling.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a long four years, and I&rsquo;m just happy that it&rsquo;s over.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Webb and Estey, meanwhile, said they would appeal the decision to Idaho&rsquo;s Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We respectfully but strongly disagree with today&rsquo;s verdict and plan to appeal,&rdquo; they said. &ldquo;We were honoring the First Amendment rights of all involved.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fendley was awarded $3 million in damages for business losses, mental and emotional distress, personal humiliation, and lost reputation, and another $1 million in punitive damages. It is not clear who will pay for the verdict.<\/p>\n<p>The trial climaxed in a seven-hour appearance on the witness stand by Nicole Nimmons, the associate vice president for campus services and the primary point of contact between Fendley and BSU.<\/p>\n<p>Estey, Webb, Tromp, and Fendley&rsquo;s former fianc&eacute; and retired Boise Police Department Sgt. Kevin Holtry all took the stand to face questioning from both sides, <em>Boisedev<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/boisedev.com\/news\/2024\/09\/13\/big-city-verdict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"reported\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fendley displayed the &ldquo;thin blue line&rdquo; flag to commemorate Holtry, who was paralyzed after being shot in the line of duty in 2016. Outrage over the flag from BSU students flared up when the new location opened on campus in 2020, leading to its closure after only 42 days. Fendley argued that she was forced off campus, while the university argued that she left voluntarily.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling in favor of Fendley was praised by Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate, who portrayed it as a &ldquo;warning to other institutions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am thrilled at the outcome of this trial,&rdquo; Nate said in a statement. &ldquo;This verdict not only is a big win for free speech and the 1st Amendment, but it is also a warning to other institutions who would use dirty tactics to promote a woke agenda and create a cancel culture on their campuses. Big thank you to Sarah Fendley for standing up for what is right! This is just one of many victories to look forward to.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Local Republicans also praised the result, with Ryan Spoon, first vice chairman of the Ada County Republican Party, saying, &ldquo;Every once in a great while, our justice system actually delivers justice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1689709\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1689709\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Idaho coffee shop owner has been awarded $4 million after relocating her business off campus due to pressure related to a pro-police flag. Sarah Jo Fendley, who owns Big City Coffee, initiated a $10 million tort claim against Boise State University (BSU), its President Marlene Tromp, Vice President for Equity Initiatives Francisco Salinas, and administrators Alicia Estey and Leslie Webb in 2021. This action followed the termination of her contract with the university over her display of a &#8220;thin blue line&#8221; flag supporting law enforcement. While most of her claims were dismissed, the lawsuit against Estey and Webb proceeded and culminated in Fendley&#8217;s victory on Friday. After the ruling, Fendley expressed gratitude for the jury&#8217;s efforts and relief that the lengthy ordeal was finally over. In contrast, Estey and Webb announced plans to appeal the decision to Idaho\u2019s Supreme Court, asserting they were upholding First Amendment rights for everyone involved.<\/p>\n<p>Fendley received $3 million in damages for business losses as well as emotional distress and reputational harm, along with an additional $1 million in punitive damages. The responsibility for covering this verdict remains unclear. The trial featured extensive testimony from Nicole Nimmons, associate vice president for campus services\u2014who was Fendley&#8217;s main contact at BSU\u2014as well as testimonies from Estey, Webb, Tromp, and Fendley&#8217;s former fianc\u00e9 Kevin Holtry.<\/p>\n<p>Fendley had displayed the &#8220;thin blue line&#8221; flag in honor of Holtry after he was paralyzed while on duty in 2016. Controversy erupted among BSU students when she opened a new location on campus featuring this flag in 2020; it closed just 42 days later amid backlash. While Fendley contended that she was forced off campus by university pressure, BSU maintained that she left voluntarily.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling favoring Fendley has been celebrated by Ron Nate from the Idaho Freedom Foundation as a significant win for free speech and a cautionary tale for other institutions regarding their treatment of similar issues related to free expression on campuses. Local Republican leaders also commended the outcome as an example of justice being served within the legal system<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2341792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Iowa.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40991,33371,40990,40992],"class_list":["post-2341791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-boise-state","tag-business-news","tag-coffee-shop","tag-legal-award"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Iowa.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2341791"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341791\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2341792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2341791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2341791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2341791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}