University Pays $1.65 Million To Settle Tuition Refund Class Action Claiming Online Classes During Covid Were 'Subpar'; Students Get $185 Each; Lawyers Get $550,000

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lindenwood U. to Pay $1.65 Million to Settle Claim Online Classes 'Subpar':

The nearly 6,000 Lindenwood University students who had spring 2020 classes move online during the COVID-19 pandemic soon will be getting some money back.

U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White approved a $1.65 million settlement Wednesday between the St. Charles university and a class action group of students led by Dylan Martin, of Eldon, Missouri. Each student will receive roughly $185, and the students' attorneys will receive roughly $550,000. ...

The initial Lindenwood suit, filed in August 2020, claimed the university breached its contract with students when it abruptly canceled classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. It said online learning options were "subpar in practically every aspect" to in-person classes and students overpaid for tuition because virtual instruction was less expensive. The suit asked Lindenwood for more than $5 million in reimbursements. 

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• Federal Judge Reinstates Harvard Law Students' COVID-19 Tuition Refund Class Action (Apr. 8, 2022)
• D.C. Circuit Revives COVID Tuition Refund Lawsuits Against American, George Washington Universities (Mar. 10, 2022)
• COVID-19 Tuition Refund Fights Heat Up In Appeals Courts (Feb. 2, 2022)
• Columbia Settles COVID-19 Class Action Tuition Refund Suit For $12.5 Million (Nov. 27, 2021)
• Federal Judge Dismisses Harvard Law Students' COVID-19 Tuition Refund Class Action (June 24, 2021)
• Although Courts Have Dismissed Many Of The 300+ COVID-19 Tuition Refund Lawsuits, Dozens Are Proceeding Toward Trial; Colleges Have Settled Two Of The Cases And Paid Millions In Damages (May 20, 2021)
• Courts Differ On Whether Colleges Should Pay Tuition Refunds For Classes Shifted Online During COVID-19 (Apr. 23, 2021)
• Federal Judge Dismisses Santa Clara Law Students' COVID-19 Tuition Refund Class Action (Apr. 15, 2021)
• Federal Judge Allows Student Tuition Refund Class Action To Proceed Against Quinnipiac University Over COVID-19 Shift To Online Learning (Apr. 14, 2021)
• GWU And NYU Beat Student COVID-19 Tuition Refund Lawsuits (Mar. 31, 2021)
• Legislation Would Force Kansas Colleges To Give Students 50% Tuition Refunds For Classes Shifted Online Due To COVID-19 (Feb. 18, 2021)
• Update On Student Tuition Refund Lawsuits Following Colleges' Shift To Online Classes During COVID-19 (Oct. 6, 2020)