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In a federal court in Boston, prosecutors have targeted dozens of people, including coaches and parents, over a conspiracy in which actors and wealthy families manipulated college admissions at:

Wake Forest University

Stanford University

Harvard University

Georgetown University

Northwestern University

The University of California (UCLA, UC Berkeley)

University of San Diego

University of Southern California

Yale University

University of Texas at Austin

The key defendant, William Rick Singer, has pleaded guilty to racketeering, federal fraud and conspiracy charges and obstruction of justice.

Universities Rebuff Class Action Claims

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, a group of students and parents have filed suit in the Northern District of California, seeking class-action status against the schools involved. They allege negligence, consumer law breaches, and unfair competition.

The lawsuit names multiple universities as defendants. The plaintiffs seek punitive damages as well as application fee refunds.

It was Singer’s nonprofits that served to fabricate test scores and facilitate bribes to get wealthy families’ children admitted. In multiple instances, a coach agreed to recruit applicants into Stanford through the sailing team, in exchange for 6-figure payments to fund Stanford sailing. Stanford fired the coach.

The schools reject the legal arguments against them. Indeed, Singer’s prosecutors have painted the schools as victims. Yale has rescinded one of its admission offers, while Stanford has decried the fraud.

Qualifying for Class Certification: Online CLE Expert Evidence Webinar

Plaintiffs’ lawyers often use expert evidence to qualify a case for a class action lawsuit. Join The Knowledge Group as we present How to Effectively Use Expert Evidence in Class Action Cases, a live webcast, on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 12-1:30 p.m. (ET).

Our panel will share strategies. We’ll consider high-profile cases, practical advice, and potential pitfalls. The live webcast will delve into best practices for employing expert evidence to the maximum effect in establishing and litigating class action cases. We hope you can join us.