GWU Forced to Pay $5.4 Million Over Covid Switch to Zoom

WASHINGTON - Jan. 4, 2024 - PRLog -- George Washington University [GWU] has been forced to pay $5.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by students forced to learn on line - what students called "Going to Zoom U" - because of the pandemic.

Ironically, GWU had been alerted about just such a law suit by GWU public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who both warned and encouraged law suits by students who had been harmed by their universities because of the pandemic.  For example:

Students Forced Onto Zoom U Can Sue for Refunds; Law Prof Predicted and Encouraged Suits By Evicted Students (https://www.valuewalk.com/students-forced-zoom-u-sue-refunds/)
"This is kind of like purchasing a Cadillac at full price and receiving an Oldsmobile. Although both are fine vehicles, surely it is no consolation to the Cadillac buyer that the 'Olds' can also go from Point A to Point B."

COVID Shutting Down Campuses - Likely Face Law Suits Colleges and Universities Liable For Fees, Perhaps Even For Tuition

Banzhaf, who has been called a "King of Class Action Lawsuits," had also warned his university that it would face a major legal action if it tried to forced professors, especially those at especially high risk for Covid, to return to classroom teaching before it was safe to do so as GWU had originally announced.

Subsequently, very shortly before in-person classes were scheduled to begin again, GWU wisely backed down and permitted instruction on-line, he reports.

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf