A Greene County, Ohio court issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday preventing the Coalition for the Common Good from dissolving the Antioch University Advisory Board, marking the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute between Otterbein and Antioch Universities.
The two institutions partnered in 2023 to form the Coalition for the Common Good. In August, the CCG board, which is led by Otterbein President John Comerford, voted privately to disband Antioch’s board, assume control of Antioch’s bank accounts, and implement changes to its accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission. On the same day, Comerford sent a termination letter to Antioch President Lori Varlotta, who has headed the institution since 2025.
After an initial injunction request was denied in September, Antioch filed another lawsuit through board member Therese Cannon to challenge what the institution characterized as a “hostile takeover.” Judge Adolfo A. Tornichio of the Common Pleas Court ruled that the CCG lacked the legal authority to abolish the Antioch University Advisory Board or modify its accreditation status without approval from the Antioch Standing Committee, which comprises part of the nine-member CCG board structure that includes eight division directors and an independent director.
The judge also determined that CCG could not fire Varlotta. However, he declined to block CCG’s authority to place her on paid administrative leave, distinguishing between termination and administrative leave under Ohio law. Steve Crandall, chair of the Antioch University Advisory Board, characterized the ruling as a significant victory, stating that the court affirmed Antioch’s position that CCG lacks the authority to dissolve the board, take over accreditation relations, or terminate the university’s president.
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