PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania is facing a class action lawsuit over an alleged refusal to refund tuition during its coronavirus shutdown.
Asha Smith on April 30 filed the lawsuit, which is similar to dozens of other cases filed around the country against colleges and universities. Her lawyers are Stuart Carpey of Plymouth Meeting and the South Carolina firm Anastopoulo Law Firm, who also sued Penn State in the same week.
The lawsuit seeks refunds owed on a pro-rata basis.
“While closing campus and transitioning to online classes was the right thing for Defendant to do, this decision deprived Plaintiff and the other members of the Classes from recognizing the benefits of in-person instruction, access to campus facilities, student activities and other benefits and services in exchange for which they had already paid fees and tuition,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit makes claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:20-cv-2086