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This settlement is closed!
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A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging Western Culinary Institute Ltd., Le Cordon Bleu North America LLC and Career Education Corporation failed to disclose certain information about the nature and value of the education offered to students at Le Cordon Bleu Portland (formerly called Western Culinary Institute).
If you were a former student enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu Portland at any time from March 5, 2006 to March 1, 2010, you may be entitled to payment from the class action settlement.
Plaintiff Nathan Surrett filed the Le Cordon Bleu class action lawsuit on March 5, 2008, accusing the culinary school of violations of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act, fraud, and other claims. He alleges Le Cordon Bleu overstated the value of its culinary arts training program.
According to the Le Cordon Bleu class action lawsuit, students were allegedly duped into spending thousands of dollars to attend the school, or taking out high-interest loans, only to find that they were only qualified for entry-level jobs that do not require a degree. Le Cordon Bleu Portland graduates claim they believed they would receive training that would qualify them to attain careers as chefs or restaurant owners.
Instead, Le Cordon Bleu Portland graduates allegedly found themselves working as bussers, bartenders or dishwashers. Some graduates complained that prospective employers informed them that a degree from Le Cordon Bleu was worthless.
Le Cordon Bleu reportedly had 16 locations across the United States before it shut down in 2017.
The Le Cordon Bleu class action settlement was preliminarily approved on Feb. 8, 2018.
The deadline to opt out of or object to the Le Cordon Bleu class action settlement is May 8, 2018.
Who’s Eligible
Class Members of the Western Culinary Institute settlement include all former students who enrolled at and attended Le Cordon Bleu Portland from March 5, 2006 to March 1, 2010. NOTE: The Le Cordon Bleu settlement only affects those Class Members who did not sign an agreement expressly waiving their right to pursue class action litigation (the “Settlement Subclass”).
Potential Award
Varies.
Class Members who submit timely and valid Claim Forms are entitled to a payment of 44 percent of the total amount they paid to Le Cordon Bleu Portland.
The defendants have also agreed that they will not seek to collect on amounts owed by members of the settlement subclass.
Proof of Purchase
Claimants must provide the Claim ID from the Claim Package they received in the mail. If you did not receive a Claim Package in the mail but you believe you qualify as a Class Member of the Le Cordon Bleu Portland settlement, contact the Settlement Administrator.
Claim Form
NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.
Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Claim Form Deadline
6/7/2018
NOTE: Claim Forms must be received by the Settlement Administrator by June 7, 2018. Claim Forms that are postmarked by the Claim Form deadline but which have not been received by the deadline will not be accepted.
Case Name
Nathan Surrett, et al. v. Western Culinary Institute Ltd., et al., Case No. 0803-03530, in the Circuit Court for the State of Oregon, County of Multnomah
Final Hearing
6/8/2018
Settlement Website
https://LeCordonBleuPortlandLawsuit.com
Claims Administrator
Surrett v. Western Culinary Institute
Epiq Systems Inc., Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 5270
Portland, OR 97208-5270
1-844-551-1720
info@LeCordonBleuPortlandLawsuit.com
Class Counsel
David F. Sugerman
DAVID F. SUGERMAN ATTORNEY PC
Tim Alan Quenelle
TIM QUENELLE PC
Amy Johnson
AMY JOHNSON ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Defense Counsel
Martin Loring
HUSCH BLACKWELL
Thomas R. Johnson
PERKINS COIE LLP
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18 thoughts onLe Cordon Bleu Culinary School Class Action Settlement
I really need help to get tuition reimbursement. I attended LeCordon Bleu Minnesota and what a scam and full of crooks. The chefs were fine, it was the false advertisement. We made stock one time!!!! I learned more in one shift in the real world kitchen vs a year of a “associates” degree. Please help if you know attornies or where I should look for help. I did miss out on the lawsuit. Thank you for any help
So any answer on Pittsburgh, went to la cordon bleu 2008 and graduated, waste of money now they are closed
I went to the same school and in the same boat. My fiancé as well before he died.
Anything about PA culinary – LCB Pittsburgh?? 2002-2003
I went to Le Cordon Bleu Pasadena Calif. During 2002-2003.My loan was for $45,000.00. I am still paying my student loan. I did recieve a form in the mail sometime ago. I filled it out promptly and mailed it in regarding the class action lawsuit. It did say I am eligible.I have since moved.And would like to hear from someone.
Looking for anyone in Minnesota that has had the same issues as the rest of the country no luck with the lawyers so far they are busy with devry.
Why is it that only LCB of Portland is being held responsible? Why not the parent corporation that holds all of the culinary schools across the US? I attended LCB of Austin, TX and graduated in 2005. This has been a constant battle for over 13 years. Unable to consolidate, and unable to successfully make $650 monthly payments working as a line cook for $8.45/hr, I was forced to leave the industry. What happened at Texas Culinary Academy/LCB of Austin, TX was exactly the same. The recruiters hyped up the sucess rate, salaries, and demand for “seasoned chefs from the sought after Le Cordon Bleu program”. They definitely failed to deliver on any promises that they made. I was laughed at and told many times that the certificate I received at LCB-Austin was useless. 13 years later… My wages are being garnished for a federal loan that I wasn’t aware that I signed for, hidden amongst the stack of loan documents they had laid in front of me.
I too attended in Austin to but have not found anything on a settlement from Texas yet. Have you had any luck finding a law firm that would be able to mimic this case for Texas students?
I also attended LCB Austin. They mislead me about the earning potential and demand for graduates, and I worked bottom barrel kitchen jobs after I graduated until I couldn’t afford to anymore. They ruined my credit for years. Definitely interested in pursuing a case against them.
My wife also attended LCB in Austin and graduated in 2004. Unfortunately neither of us knew what we were getting into and believed in the value of the education they were selling. Ultimately, I cosigned her student loan. She was able to work in various positions in the culinary industry, including Exec. Chef, but the loan payments remained disproportionate to her earning potential. We are only able to pay these loans with the support of my income, and will be paying for the foreseeable future. Please let us know if there is any action being taken specifically towards Texas Culinary Academy.
I also graduated from
TCA, in 2008. I haven’t found anything that shows any sort of lawsuit against them. I used my military benefits and wasted them.
I too attended in 2005-6 years. Graduated with a Non-Credible ASS-(Associates of Applied Science). Not One credit is deemed credible. I spent 43(k) plus expenses to attend this school thinking it would help me get my foot in the door faster with high wages to pay back to student loans but, no! Now I have to start all the way back over again, and in the ‘negative!!’ Not fair. Som much frustration, time, and money has been lost to the Le Cordon Bleu Texas Culinary Academy in Austin.
Jody Collins
I went to LCB Portland in 2010 and I moved right after graduation. I never got any claim forms or notifications of class action. What do I do about my loans?
Is there any settlements for the Orlando locations as well?
Does this settlement apply to California?
Is this only for Portland or does this settlement apply to California as well?
Does this mean the affiliation with master cook on line cooking program is worthless
I know they still have recipes and they are great but does me paying for the program as an addon make sense or will the Le CBC
Just fade away?
Please let me know as i don’t want to pay and have my money go towards a lawsuit which is very sad for those graduates or go to Le Cordon Bleu to start under a new name
You should contact the settlement administrator with your questions: info@LeCordonBleuPortlandLawsuit.com. You can also contact class counsel. Counsel is listed in the TCA article and on the settlement website, and can be Googled for contact information.