An Idaho coffee shop owner was awarded $4 million after she moved her business off campus due to pressure for flying a pro- police flag.
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 “thin blue line” flag. While most of the claims were dismissed, the lawsuit against Estey and Webb was given the go-ahead, ending in Fendley’s victory on Friday.
“I’m thankful that the truth finally came out and grateful to the jury for their time and effort,” Fendley said after the ruling. “It’s been a long four years, and I’m just happy that it’s over.”
Webb and Estey, meanwhile, said they would appeal the decision to Idaho’s Supreme Court.
“We respectfully but strongly disagree with today’s verdict and plan to appeal,” they said. “We were honoring the First Amendment rights of all involved.”