Stop efforts to close Sweet Briar, lawsuits by county attorney and alumna urge Virginia court
Image from Sweet Briar College.
Echoing arguments made by unhappy alumnae about the planned closing of Sweet Briar College, the county attorney for Amherst County, Virginia, has filed suit seeking a court order to reconfigure its leadership.
Filed Monday, the suit seeks an injunction, putting what amounts to a receiver in charge, and asking the court to require the appointment of a new president and board of trustees, according to the Lynchburg News & Advance and the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Inside Higher Ed provides a copy of the county attorney’s complaint (PDF).
At issue is whether the current leaders of the storied women’s college have breached their fiduciary duty under state trust law by using charitable contributions intended for the college’s operations to shut it down.
Meanwhile, a graduate of the college also filed suit (PDF) Monday seeking injunctive relief, reports the News & Advance.
Like the county attorney’s suit, Jessica Campbell’s complaint cites the will of Indiana Fletcher Williams who gave Sweet Briar her plantation and money to establish the college, it seeks injunctive relief.
In filing suit, she acted independently of Saving Sweet Briar Inc., an alumnae group that has raised over $3.2 million in pledges to help keep the college from closing.
However, her lawyer, Elliott Schuchardt, said she would gladly cooperate with the group. “We’ve been waiting for Saving Sweet Briar to take any action … we felt it was essential to step in and get this done,” Schuchardt said.
In a Monday written statement, Saving Sweet Briar praised the county attorney’s suit. It isn’t clear if the group knew of Campbell’s suit at the time.
“We are pleased that she has been able to use the evidence and research we have gathered to make a strong legal case for saving Sweet Briar College,” said the group’s chairwoman, Sarah Clement, in the press release, referring to county attorney Ellen Bowyer.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Sweet Briar grads retain Troutman Sanders, launch crowdfunding campaign to save school”
ABAJournal.com: “Grads call for Sweet Briar leaders to resign, citing fiduciary duties and claimed charity-law issue”
