Williams Mullen's COVID-19 Comeback Plan: China-related Duty Savings and Refunds
VIDEO: Using the COVID-19 Shutdown to Enhance the University Brand
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a district court’s decision to deny a motion to compel arbitration in a case involving a request to refund the cost of airline tickets after a cancellation....more
Massachusetts colleges and universities received some good news recently as Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill that limits their liability for certain tuition and fee refund claims arising from the COVID-19 pandemic....more
In Eddlemon v. Bradley University, 65 F.4th 335 (7th Cir. 2023), the Seventh Circuit underscored that evidence, not allegations, control the court’s class certification analysis. At issue in Eddlemon were claims stemming...more
A magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas has issued a report and recommendation to the District Court concluding that the contract exclusion in a directors and officers...more
In previous posts, we reported on several of the many lawsuits across the country in which students have sued their colleges and universities for tuition reimbursement as a result of not receiving certain services during (in...more
In a recent decision, causation proved to be a determinative factor in the viability of multiple claims subject to the same force majeure clause. District judge rules that broad interpretation of United Airline’s “Force...more
Two more university tuition refund cases were recently decided at the pleadings stage, with mixed results for the university defendants. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in the matter of...more
COVID-19 class actions continue to increase and are expected to spread to additional areas of law. Higher education has been one of the prime subjects of class actions thus far. To date, over 250 class action lawsuits have...more
There is a current wave of class action lawsuits against institutions of higher education. Over 150 class action suits have been filed. Students are seeking reimbursement of their tuition, room and board, and fees...more
2020 has been a tumultuous year, but it has taught us to better prepare for the future and how to better enable schools to maintain their operations in the face of these unprecedented challenges. As schools faced shutdown...more
With airlines facing over 30 class actions across the country seeking refunds for COVID-19 related flight cancellations, Pillsbury client Norwegian Air is the first to obtain a dismissal with prejudice. Boilerplate...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In the first ruling in response to the slew of room and board refund class actions filed in the wake of COVID-19, on July 29, 2020, in Rosenkrantz v. Arizona Board of Regents, No. 2:20-CV-01203 (D. Ariz.),...more
This 17th edition of Unprecedented, our weekly update on COVID-19-related litigation, discusses everything from insurance coverage disputes to statewide shutdown orders. Despite an uphill climb towards liability, businesses...more
In an effort to balance safety with education amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities have transitioned from in-person classes to online formats. ...more
An Auburn University student claims he did not get what he bargained for in being relegated to distance learning instead of having an in-person educational experience. On June 30, 2020, Steven Bailey filed a federal court...more
This 13th edition of Unprecedented, our weekly update on COVID-19-related litigation brings new developments in everything from constitutional law to tort liability. Shutdown cases show no signs of slowing down, and it seems...more
Thinking back to college days may conjure up memories of large lecture halls, hands-on labs, late nights in the library, dorm parties, and tailgating. Attending college is not just about what is learned in class. It is about...more
In just two months, more than 110 class action lawsuits have been filed against colleges and universities. These complaints arise out of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced higher education institutions to close their campuses...more
Class action lawsuits seeking tuition refunds are being filed nationwide against colleges and universities, which are already dealing with revenue loss from closing down their campuses during the coronavirus (COVID-19)...more
Nowhere is the COVID-19 virus mutating more quickly than in the cozy confines of class action litigation. From business interruption, to gym memberships, to disappointed Airbnb hosts, more and more Americans are turning to...more
In recent weeks, at least 42 putative class action lawsuits have been filed against colleges and universities across the country related to campus shutdowns and the move to online education necessitated by the COVID-19...more
When COVID-19 arrived in the United States during the spring academic semester, there were approximately 20 million students enrolled in on-campus classes at U.S. colleges and universities. The virus rapidly spread. The...more
COVID-19 has presented myriad challenges for U.S. colleges and universities to navigate over the past several months. One recent development has been a growing number of lawsuits brought by students seeking a refund of...more
As the number of COVID-19 cases began to rise in the United States, colleges and universities around the country took proactive steps to limit the spread of the disease on campuses. Students were asked to return home; faculty...more
Universities continue to see a rise of COVID-19-related class action lawsuits alleging that campus closures deny students the full benefits of an on-campus college experience. This new wave of class action lawsuits generally...more