College COVID-19 Lawsuits
Suing Universities in New York & Beyond for Refunds
The coronavirus pandemic has robbed college and university students of the benefits that only an in-person education can bring. Yet colleges and universities the nation over are still charging full prices for tuition as if nothing has changed. At Sultzer & Lipari in New York, we know this approach to tuition prices is wrong, and we are proud to help students do something about it by holding colleges financially liable.
Are you attending an online or remote college or university in New York and have not been given any refund or discount? We are the local law firm you can trust to bring a claim against your college.
Our college COVID-19 lawsuit attorneys are also hearing from students across the United States. Attorney Jason Sultzer has already filed 40 lawsuits against colleges across the nation including Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks to our reputation and connections in wide legal circles, we can help clients join nationwide class actions, refer them to trusted local resources, and more.
Find out if you can start a claim or join a class action against your university by calling (800) 552-0265 or contacting us online.
Why Colleges Might Owe Refunds to Students
While completing an online education keeps students safe from the highly dangerous coronavirus, it simply cannot compare to an in-person and on-campus education. There are so many aspects of traditional education that help encourage learning, motivate students, solidify education and career goals, and much more.
To name only a few benefits of an in-person education:
- Open and clear classroom discussions
- One-on-one sessions with professors
- On-campus housing and dining options
- Fraternity and sorority groups and events
Without these benefits, a student’s chances of making the most of their college education – or even completing it – will drop noticeably. Beyond this problem, there is the legal question about whether or not it is acceptable to charge full tuition for what is not the same educational experience that was being offered before the pandemic began.
Breach of Contract & Unjust Enrichment Accusations
In the lawsuit filed by Attorney Sultzer, which is aiming to become a class action, he cites that the college has breached its contract and collected unjust enrichment. Both of these accusations could be grounds for liability if they can be upheld in court.
What do the two grounds for the lawsuit imply?
- Breach of contract: The contracts between students and colleges or universities generally imply a full educational experience with all of the benefits of attending in-person classes. By failing to deliver this experience, a college or university has effectively conducted a breach of contract.
- Unjust enrichment: When a party collects or enjoys the benefits of a contract without fulfilling their part of the agreement, it is known as unjust enrichment, such as collecting a normal amount of tuition for a less-than-normal college education.
Are Colleges Responsible for COVID-Related Closures?
Some colleges and universities have tried to argue that they should not be held accountable for government-mandated closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Along this line of thinking, the colleges want to receive and keep full tuition payments from students because the pandemic is not their fault.
This argument fails to acknowledge what would happen if any other situation outside of their control caused the closure of an educational institution. For example, if a hurricane severely damaged a university in Florida, then refunds or reimbursements would be owed to the students who could no longer complete their semester there. It makes sense to assume that a natural disaster like a global virus should be handled in the same way.
Hold Your College or University Liable Today
Sultzer & Lipari in New York is standing by to assist college and university students from all across the United States pursue fair refunds or compensation after being charged full tuition for a lessened educational experience. As mentioned, Attorney Sultzer is already working on a case for a student against a college in Ohio. The situation in that state is not unique, though. You are probably going through something similar, no matter where you live. By investigating and starting more claims and class actions for more students, we can empower college students everywhere.
Would you like to know more? Please call (800) 552-0265 today.
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