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COLLEGE TUITION REFUND FAQs

What are these lawsuits about?

These lawsuits seek reimbursement for tuition, fees, and (in most cases) room and board, paid for during the spring 2020 terms and subsequent terms in which COVID-19 caused schools to provide online courses instead of in-person courses and/or campuses to close. Hagens Berman believes that institutions of higher learning have no right to keep the tuition, fees, and room and board charges given the campus closures and switch to online only instruction. While we understand the campus closures were necessary, students did not receive the benefit of their bargain, including in-person instruction, access to facilities essential to study like libraries and laboratories, and other amenities such as dormitories, athletic complexes, student activities, and more.

What is the intended outcome of COVID-19 related lawsuits against universities and colleges?

Hagens Berman is fighting for the rights of students and families charged for tuition, fees, and room and board at a college or university, but forced to relocate and take online classes due to the outbreak of COVID-19. We believe students and their families paid for in-person education, did not receive what they paid for, and deserve reimbursement for tuition, fees, and room and board.

What types of damages are you seeking in the class actions against institutions of higher learning?

We are seeking the damages each class member incurred as a result of the campus closures and move to online-only education, including fair prorated reimbursement for tuition, fees and room and board.

How long will it take to resolve these lawsuits on behalf of tuition-payers?

Cases of this nature usually take between one and four years to resolve, but each case is unique.

How much money can I and other potential class members expect?

At this early stage of the litigation, it is difficult to predict what compensation each class member will ultimately receive. If a settlement is reached that the court rules is fair, reasonable and adequate, then the money obtained from that settlement must be distributed to class members in a manner that the court determines to be fair and equitable.

ABOUT THE CASES

Which schools does Hagens Berman have cases against? Is mine on the list?

Hagens Berman is investigating all colleges and universities nationwide regarding reimbursement for tuition, room and board, and fees. Our investigation is not limited to those already named in litigation.

Click here for a full list of the filed cases against universities

My school is not on this list. What should I do?

Hagens Berman investigating all colleges and universities nationwide regarding reimbursement for tuition, fees, and room and board. Our investigation is not limited to those already named in litigation. If you are a student enrolled in college during COVID-19, you are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman about a potential case.

MY SIGN UP INFORMATION

Did you receive my information?
  • If you filled out the form to inquire about a pending case or a new case, we have received your information, and our legal team will respond as soon as possible. If you sent an email to our legal team, please be patient. Our attorneys are working as fast as they can to respond to you.
  • If you have left a voice mail for Steve Berman, Daniel Kurowski, Whitney Siehl or any other member of Hagens Berman's team, we are responding to these calls as quickly as we can.

FEE

How much does it cost?

There is no cost or fee whatsoever involved in joining the lawsuit. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement or judgment that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the lawyers for class members. Any such fee may be paid separately from damages by the university, or it may be deducted from the class-wide settlement before funds are distributed to individual class members. In no case, however, will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum to the class lawyers.

WHAT IF...

I am a current student. Can I be part of a pending lawsuit or bring a lawsuit against my school?

Yes.

I am a graduate/professional student. Can I be part of a pending lawsuit or bring a lawsuit against my school?

Yes.

My study abroad program was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Can I be a part of a pending lawsuit or bring a lawsuit against my school?

You are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman about the specific circumstances of your program.

I live outside of the U.S. Can I be a part of a pending lawsuit or bring a lawsuit against my school?

Hagens Berman’s present lawsuits are on behalf of persons who were attending a United States institution of higher education during COVID-19 campus closures. It does not matter where you live; you can still be part of the lawsuits.

ABOUT CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS

My local attorney recommended that I sue my school on my own. What are the benefits of being part of a class-action lawsuit?

There are many benefits to participating in a class action: 

  • you do not have to pay any advance or hourly fees to your attorneys, and your attorneys will be among the finest and most respected plaintiffs’ lawyers in the country;

  • your attorneys will pay all fees and costs associated with prosecuting the lawsuit and will not be paid at all if they do not obtain a settlement or judgment that the court determines is fair, reasonable and adequate;

  • you will not have to provide discovery, be deposed, appear in court or otherwise participate in the lawsuit unless you ask to be a class representative and are chosen for that role;

  • your attorneys will have the collective bargaining power of thousands of class members;

  • If a settlement is obtained, you will have the right to review the proposed settlement and then decide whether or not to be included in it. If you decide not to participate, you will retain the right to sue (or continue to sue) on your own. For many claims, the statute of limitations will begin to run only after you exclude yourself from the settlement; the law in some states may differ.

What is a class-action lawsuit and how does it work?

A class-action lawsuit is a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of a group of people or business entities who have suffered common injuries as a result of the defendants’ conduct, with at least one individual or entity acting as a representative of that group. While the issues of a class action can vary, the issues in dispute are common to all class members. Class actions can be brought in state or federal court.

I've already joined a class action. Is it OK to join more than one suit?

“Joining” a class action is a bit of a misnomer.  In fact, all students enrolled for a semester in which the school was closed or limited due to COVID-19 will automatically be a class member if a case or a consolidated case against their school is certified as a class action by the judge, and they do not affirmatively “opt-out” of the class case.  Because a decision on whether to certify a class in the pending cases will not occur for many months, as it stands, all students enrolled at the schools with pending cases against them during COVID-19 related campus closures are potential class members.

The exception is if you have been named as a class representative plaintiff in a college tuition lawsuit—that is, your name is on the lawsuit as a plaintiff—then you would not be able to be a named class representative in another lawsuit alleging the same bad acts by the institution.  If you are not the named class representative plaintiff in a lawsuit, you are not yet a part of that lawsuit, and your options are not at all limited.

ABOUT HAGENS BERMAN

Why should I sign up with Hagens Berman?

Hagens Berman is one of the most successful consumer litigation law firms in the U.S. and has achieved more than $260 billion in settlements for consumers in lawsuits against food corporations, automakers, big banks and others. The firm has successfully taken on higher learning institutions as well, achieving hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements for students and alumnae to support campus safety and students' rights. Your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in consumer law.

CONTACT

What’s the quickest way to get a response from Hagens Berman’s legal team?

You can contact us and provide your information at:  https://www.hbsslaw.com/consumer-rights/college-tuition-and-room-and-board-payback#form and please be patient. If you feel there is something very important you may email our legal team directly using [email protected].

WHAT TO EXPECT

What are next steps?

We will vigorously prosecute the cases currently on file. Additional complaints will be filed as more students, parents, and guardians sign up to bring cases against their institutions of higher learning.