Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
A UCLA admissions class action is seeking refunds for college applications, claiming that the university accepted bribes during the admissions process.
According to the admissions class action, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) accepted monetary payments in exchange for allowing certain applicants to go through an easier admissions process.
Plaintiff Valentina Riffel reportedly reimbursed her parents for her UCLA application fee. Although the fee itself is not deceptive, Riffel argues that she and other applicants should have their application costs refunded due to the fact that UCLA misrepresented their admissions process.
According to the UCLA class action, the university states on their website that their admissions process aims to identify “those unique individuals who have demonstrated the intellectual curiosity, tenacity, and commitment to community service.” These representations were allegedly false since UCLA purportedly accepts monetary bribes in exchange for admissions leniency.
Unfortunately, most applicants reportedly had no idea of UCLA’s duplicity before the “Varsity Blues” scandal came out earlier this year. Because the applicants were unaware, they were allegedly deceived into paying an application fee despite unfair circumstances.
“Having no knowledge of Representation’s falsity, Plaintiff and Plaintiff Class relied upon the truth of the Representation, and paid, or reimbursed payment of, an application fee in connection with an application for admission to UCLA during the class period,” the UCLA admissions class action argues.
UCLA and other universities face similar lawsuits from other applicants. In March, several plaintiffs brought similar claims against UCLA, Stanford, Yale, Georgetown and other universities. The plaintiffs alleged that wealthy families consistently use bribes to secure their children a place in reputable universities. In June 2019, other plaintiffs filed a similar admissions fraud class action against UCLA, Stanford, Yale, and more.
Several notable parents have allegedly been identified as a part of the fraudulent admissions and testing scandal. Actress Lori Loughlin, known for her role in Full House, and her husband are reportedly linked to the scandal, having allegedly bribed the University of Southern California (USC) for their two daughters. Other parents have been accused of fraudulently securing their children admissions or higher SAT/ACT test scores. So far, 51 parties have been indicted as part of the Varsity Blues investigation including actress Felicity Huffman.
In her UCLA admissions class action, Riffel seeks to represent a Class of individuals who paid for a UCLA admissions application fee.
The UCLA admissions class action lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, general damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, restitution, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Did you or your child pay an application fee when applying for UCLA admissions? Let us know in the comment section below.
Riffel and the proposed Class are represented by Kevin Mahoney and Katherine J. Odenbreit of Mahoney Law Group APC.
The UCLA Admissions Class Action Lawsuit is Riffel v. The Regents of the University of California, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-08286, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
