Judge Approves Settlement in Sweet Briar College Litigation

We previously blogged about the legal challenge to the attempted closing of Sweet Briar College.  As reported in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bedford County Circuit Judge James Updike approved a mediated settlement to three lawsuits that had been filed to prevent the closing of the private women’s college. The story reports the following salient details: 

[Judge] Updike accepted three consent orders presented by Attorney General Mark R. Herring, whose office brokered a mediation effort that continued over nearly six weeks.

The orders, which take effect today, will allow the transfer of leadership to a new president and board of directors under a plan that requires the alumnae group Saving Sweet Briar Inc. to provide $12 million, with $2.5 million due by July 2.

Herring will release restrictions on $16 million from the college’s endowment, which he said will be a sufficient amount to operate the college for the next academic year.

According to the article, the new president of the school will be Phillip C. Stone Sr.

For a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding serving as the basis of the settlement agreement, click here.

JRB