ALL STUDENTS WHO PAID OR WERE OBLIGATED TO PAY TUITION, FEES, OR OTHER COSTS TO PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY FOR THE SPRING 2020 ACADEMIC TERM.
This Litigation is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. CV 20-4928-DMG (KSx).
The case that was scheduled to begin on May 7, 2024 was vacated by the Court, to be rescheduled for a subsequent date to be determined.
What is this Lawsuit about?
The Class Representatives allege that they and Class Members have the right to partial refunds of tuition and fees for the Spring 2020 academic term because Pepperdine transitioned to remote instruction in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The litigation is ongoing and the case is currently scheduled for trial beginning on May 7, 2024. This date may be altered by the Court. The Court has not made a ruling on the merits of Class Representatives’ remaining allegations or on Pepperdine’s denials and defenses. By certifying the Class and issuing this Notice, the Court is not suggesting that the Class Representatives will win or lose this case.
Who is in the Class?
All students who paid or were obligated to pay tuition, fees, or other costs to Pepperdine for the Spring 2020 academic term.
Excluded from the Class are all students who enrolled in Pepperdine’s education programs that, prior to March 16, 2020, were offered exclusively online. Also excluded from the class is Pepperdine, Pepperdine’s officers, directors, agents, trustees, parents, children, corporations, trusts, representatives, employees, principals, servants, partners, joint ventures, or entities controlled by Pepperdine, and their heirs, successors, assigns, or other people or entities related to or affiliated with Pepperdine and/or Pepperdine’s officers and/or directors, the judges assigned to this action, and any member of an assigned judge’s immediate family.
If you are a member of the Class, your rights may be affected by this Action. If you do not meet the Class definition, this Notice does not apply to you. If you are uncertain whether you are a member of the Class, contact Class Counsel listed on the “Contact Information” tab, or your own attorney.
What are your legal rights and options?
You have two options at present:
CHOOSE TO REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE CLASS, you will be bound by all past, present, and future orders and judgments in this Action, whether favorable or unfavorable. If any money is awarded to the Class, either through a settlement with Pepperdine or a judgment of the Court after a trial and any appeal, you may be eligible to receive a share of that award. If you remain a member of the Class, you may not pursue a lawsuit on your own behalf regarding the issues in this Action.
CHOOSE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE CLASS, you will not be bound by any orders or judgments in this Action, nor will you be eligible to share in any recovery that might be obtained in this Action. You will retain any right you have to individually pursue any legal recourse you may have against Pepperdine regarding the claims asserted in the Action. Please note, if you exclude yourself from the Class, you may be time-barred by a statute of repose from asserting the claims covered by the Action.
Each of these options is described in more detail in the Notice.
Your options are explained in the notice. To ask to be excluded, you must request to be excluded by March 22, 2024, or you will be bound by all past, present and future orders and judgments in this Action, whether favorable or unfavorable.
Do not contact the Court directly about this lawsuit or this Notice.
How to be excluded from the class
The deadline for sending a written request to exclude yourself from the lawsuit is March 22, 2024. You have two options for how to exclude yourself from the Class. You must either (1) email the Class Administrator at pepperdinecovidtuitionlawsuit@rg2claims.com or (2) send a written request for exclusion by first-class mail to the Class Administrator at In re Pepperdine University COVID-19 Tuition and Fee Litigation PO Box 59479 Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479. You cannot exclude yourself from the Class by telephone or facsimile.
Whichever method you choose, the request for exclusion must: (i) clearly state as follows: “I request to be excluded from the Class in In re Pepperdine University COVID-19 Tuition and Fee Litigation, Case No. CV-20-4928-DMG (KSx) and any future recovery if there is any”; and (ii) include your full name, address, and a telephone number where you can be reached.