In a landmark verdict supporting free speech, a jury has awarded [1] $4 million to Sarah Fendley, a pro-police coffee shop owner, in her lawsuit against Boise State University.
The conflict stemmed from the university’s response to Fendley’s public display of support for law enforcement on social media and at her establishment.
Fendley, the owner of Big City Coffee, faced significant backlash after she posted on social media in support of law enforcement, specifically praising her then-fiancé, Sergeant Kevin Holtry.
Holtry, a former Boise police officer, was paralyzed following a shootout with a fugitive.
Despite her personal connection to the police, her post did not sit well with some segments of the Boise State community.
The controversy escalated when Fendley opted to exhibit a thin blue line sticker at her coffee shop located in downtown Boise.
EXCLUSIVE: Coffee shop owner, who was forced to shut down her shop because of her support for police, shares her story with LoTT.
Boise State University asked her to open a location on campus and then the woke mob bullied them into forcing her to shut down.
They smeared her as… pic.twitter.com/uOl8D0qSDP [2]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 26, 2024 [3]
The sticker, a symbol of support for the police, led to increased scrutiny and pushback from both the university and some community members.
An Idaho coffee shop owner was awarded $4M after Boise State University forced them to close their location on campus over support for police. pic.twitter.com/bJFa8BUuw9 [4]
— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) September 24, 2024 [5]
Explaining the sequence of events, Fendley stated during an interview on “Varney & Co.,” “I was removed from Boise State campus after 42 days for being supportive of law enforcement and in retaliation for a social media post I made being supportive of my partner at the time, my fiancé, Sergeant Kevin Holtry, and that caused a firestorm on campus. I was called to a meeting and by 5:30, I was gone.”
Following her forced exit from the campus in October 2020, the coffee shop owner filed a lawsuit against the university for $10 million, alleging violations of her First Amendment rights.
The jury ultimately sided with Fendley, awarding her $3 million for the losses she incurred regarding her business, her reputation, and for the mental and emotional distress and humiliation she endured.
An additional $1 million in punitive damages was also leveled against the school’s former vice president of student affairs, as part of the September 13th decision.
This case highlights a pivotal moment concerning the expression of personal beliefs by business owners and the extent of university involvement in regulating such expressions.