Jerry “Trey” Falwell III, the 36-year-old grandson of the late founder of Liberty University, has filed a lawsuit against the prominent evangelical institution in Lynchburg, Virginia, seeking $1.75 million in damages. Falwell claims that while the university had the right to terminate his employment following the forced resignation of his father, Jerry Falwell Jr., in 2020, it was still obligated under the terms of his longstanding employment contract to continue providing his full salary and benefits until 2030. According to the legal complaint, the school’s decision to abruptly stop these payments amounts to a clear breach of contract as well as a violation of the Virginia Wage Payment Act. The lawsuit was formally filed on April 10 in Lynchburg Circuit Court, with Liberty University receiving official notification several days later on April 16. As of now, the university’s legal team has not yet submitted a formal response in court, and a spokesperson for the school did not immediately return requests for comment.
Falwell, who graduated from Liberty University in 2011, first joined the institution as an employee in 2013. In 2015, he stepped into the role of administrative assistant to his father, who was serving as university president at the time. That same year, he secured a comprehensive 15-year employment contract, which was drafted by Liberty’s general counsel and signed by both Trey and his father in his official capacity. The agreement outlined specific conditions under which Falwell could be dismissed “for cause,” such as failing to follow directives, engaging in unethical behavior, doctrinal disagreements, or making disparaging remarks about the university. Importantly, the contract stipulated that if he were terminated without receiving written notice that clearly detailed sufficient grounds for his dismissal, the school would be required to keep paying his salary and benefits for the remainder of the contract term. At the time of signing, Falwell was earning $88,000 annually—more than double the national average for administrative assistants—reflecting the privileged position he held within the family-run institution.
After two years in that initial role, Falwell was promoted to vice president of operations, a significant advancement that came with a substantial salary increase to $220,000. University announcements at the time praised his leadership abilities and described the promotion as well-deserved. Internal emails from senior staff indicated that the raise was intended to align his compensation more closely with that of other top executives. According to the lawsuit, this promotion did not alter or replace the original 2015 contract, which remained in full effect and continued to guarantee his pay and benefits through 2030 in the event of an improperly documented termination. However, some employees who worked under him later described his leadership as inexperienced and overly influenced by nepotism, noting instances where decisions had to be quickly reversed due to a lack of preparation for managing a massive operational budget.
Falwell’s position within Liberty’s leadership reportedly only came under intense scrutiny in 2021, when he was publicly identified as a key supporter helping his father attempt a return to power. This development followed a series of high-profile scandals that led to Jerry Falwell Jr.’s resignation in August 2020. The controversies included publicized images of the elder Falwell engaging in inappropriate behavior at parties, reports of questionable business investments, and serious personal allegations involving his wife, Becki Falwell. These events created significant turmoil at the university, prompting the board to appoint Alaska pastor Jerry Prevo as interim president. Just months later, reports emerged suggesting the younger Falwell was actively involved in efforts to facilitate his father’s comeback. Ten days after those reports surfaced, Trey Falwell was abruptly fired, with security escorting him off campus without any written explanation or formal documentation of cause, according to his legal filing.
In the aftermath, Becki Falwell publicly defended her son on social media, expressing deep disappointment over how he had been treated. She described him as someone who genuinely loved Liberty University and was eager to carry forward the family legacy established by his grandfather and father. Becki claimed that Trey had even offered to accept reduced pay and responsibilities just to remain at the school and contribute to its future success. She further alleged that Prevo harbored a personal vendetta against the Falwell family, accusing him of seeking to erase their influence and establish himself as the leader of what she called a “$2 billion empire.” While the lawsuit itself stops short of such personal accusations, it firmly maintains that Liberty failed to adhere to the clear terms of the signed contract by not providing proper written notice and by withholding the compensation Trey was entitled to receive.
Through the legal action, Jerry “Trey” Falwell III is respectfully asking the court to order Liberty University to pay him compensatory damages of at least $1.75 million, with the exact amount to be determined at trial. The case highlights ongoing tensions within the university’s leadership and raises questions about contractual obligations, family influence, and institutional governance at one of the nation’s largest evangelical Christian universities, which currently enrolls approximately 140,000 students both on campus and online.
