An Orange County woman who wanted to back out as a class representative in a long-running lawsuit against Donald Trump has gotten her wish.

Tarla Makaeff, who filed the lawsuit against Trump’s defunct Trump University six years ago, claimed the litigation has caused her to suffer severe stress and unwanted publicity, especially in light of the combative presidential race.

A month ago, a San Diego federal judge OK’d her request to leave as a class representative, giving her seven days to change her mind. She didn’t, and on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel ordered her withdrawal to be final.

Three other plaintiffs will still act as class representatives in the case, including Sonny Low, 74, of Chula Vista. One of the conditions of Makaeff’s withdrawal was that Trump’s attorneys be able to depose Low again to help bolster their case. With that deposition now complete, the judge agreed to dismiss Makaeff from her role.

Makaeff will still be considered a class member in the lawsuit and could potentially collect damages should the lawsuit prevail in court.

Makaeff is among numerous former students who claim Trump’s real estate program was misleading. The students said they were upsold to pay $35,000 “elite” memberships and were promised a year of mentoring by real estate experts handpicked by Trump.

Instead, the students claim, the instructors weren’t handpicked, nor experts, and the university was not accredited as it was held out to be, the lawsuit says.

Trump and his lawyers have argued that there was nothing misleading about the program and that any failure to succeed in real estate by the students was a result of their own laziness, as well as a downturn in the market.

Trump’s lawyers had argued vehemently against Makaeff’s withdrawal, saying they had built most of their case around her. With her gone, they argued, they’d have to virtually start over.

The judge disagreed, saying the issues that needed to be proven did not hinge on her alone, and offered Low up for the additional deposition. Makaeff’s deposition testimony can also be used during a trial.

The next major question in the case remains when it will go to trial, a question that continues to depend in part on Trump’s performance in the presidential race. A trial date may be decided during the next court hearing on May 6.

Court documents have indicated Trump would be taking the stand in the trial.

There are two other lawsuits against Trump University that aren’t as far along in the process. One is a similar class action in San Diego federal court with only one named plaintiff, and the other is a lawsuit in New York state court filed by the state attorney general.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com