Steven Cohen  |  May 6, 2020

Category: Covid-19

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George Washington University allegedly denied refunds to students.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against George Washington University by a parent who claims the university shuttered its schools due to the coronavirus but refuses to provide refunds to students.

Plaintiff Mark Shaffer says that he is the father of a student at George Washington University and has paid his daughter’s tuition and fees for the spring 2020 semester.

Shaffer complains that he paid for services from the defendant, such as on-campus education, facilities, services and activities, which his daughter will never receive due to closings caused by the coronavirus.

The plaintiff states that on March 10, George Washington University began closing its campus. On that day, the defendant reportedly contacted students, telling them that most classes would move to an online environment and would remain online until at least April 5.

This was allegedly extended on March 16 when the university announced that they were extending the virtual learning through the end of the spring semester and cancelled all on-campus events through the end of the semester.

“Though the reasons for such closures are justified the fact remains that such closures and cancellations present significant loss to Plaintiff and the Class Members,” the George Washington University class action lawsuit argues.

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The plaintiff states that his daughter could have obtained her degree online, but she selected an in-person experience for a variety of educational benefits.

With the close of the university, the GW student has allegedly put up with a decreased quality of education and has lost access to important facilities.

As an example, the plaintiff points to the fact that his daughter has lost access to the campus library. There are special tools and books that are only available at the physical library building, Shaffer argues, which the defendant has not made available due to the school’s closure.

In addition, Shaffer’s daughter has allegedly lost access to student organizations as well as student activities as she was an active participant in these student run activities.

The plaintiff also notes that he paid for access to an in-class experience that would enable his daughter to communicate directly with her professors, attend office hours, and work through issues in-person.

The transition to an online format has allegedly made it difficult to connect with professors and staff, which is a critical part of the college experience.

“And with the transition to online only classes, Plaintiff’s daughter has noticed a shift in and loss of academic rigor,” the George Washington University class action lawsuit adds.

The plaintiff says that some professors are not comfortable with the use of online technology for both classroom work as well as student interaction. As a result, the plaintiff claims that the defendant has excluded students from accessing these professors for the spring 2020 semester.

“Despite sending students home and closing its campus(es), Defendant continues to charge for tuition and fees as if nothing has changed, continuing to reap the financial benefit of millions of dollars from students,” the George Washington University class action lawsuit goes on to say.

The plaintiff claims that, while students paid for a comprehensive academic experience, George Washington University has offered their students less than what they have bargained for, including a limited online experience which is void of face-to-face faculty and student interaction.

George Washington University students are allegedly at risk of financial ruin due to denied refunds.Shaffer claims that other universities, such as the University of Phoenix, highlight remote learning experiences as a primary component of the education but George Washington University is not such a school.

In fact, the defendant allegedly markets itself on the fact that the learning experience goes well beyond the classroom experience of attending lectures and writing papers.

George Washington University also recognizes its campus life as an important part of the learning experience.

The George Washington University class action lawsuit states that, while some universities are offering appropriate refunds, the defendant has not. To be sure, the defendant has agreed to prorate housing and dining as of March 20, but it has not agreed to do so for tuition and mandatory fees.

The defendant allegedly announced that tuition will remain the same for the spring 2020 semester, stating that they will be continuing to provide the same high quality education regardless of the format.

The plaintiff says that the defendant’s actions have financially damaged putative Class Members as they have not received the full value of the benefits that they were promised of an in-person education.

Shaffer notes that the students at George Washington University have signed a Change.org petition seeking a partial refund for the spring semester tuition.

Prospective Class Members include: “All people paying Defendant, in whole or in part, personally and/or on behalf of others, for Spring 2020 tuition, fees, and/or room board for in-person instruction and use of campus facilities, but who were denied use of and/or access to in-person instruction and/or campus facilities by Defendant.”

The plaintiff is represented by Glenn Ivey and Andrew S. Levetown of Ivey & Levetown LLP and Steve W. Berman, Daniel J. Kurowski, and Whitney K. Siehl of Hagens Berman Sobol & Shapiro LLP.

The George Washington University Refund Class Action Lawsuit is Mark Shaffer v. The George Washington University, Case No. 1:20-cv-01145 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

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