Can I sue my university for lying about requirements, forcing me to lose $10,000?

[SecretName]

You need to contact the university ombudsman's office.

The ombudsman is the go to first stop for these kinds of issues.



Also, you keep saying "They said." Do you mean with their mouths or in writing that you have a copy of?

When I say "they said," I am referring to written statements through the form of e-mail.

 

[quincy]

When I say "they said," I am referring to written statements through the form of e-mail.

So, what did you learn when you spoke with the officials at the university today?

 

[justalayman]

When I say "they said," I am referring to written statements through the form of e-mail.

is that the "I have it in writing" you spoke of in your first post?

They guaranteed me, in writing, acceptance to a particular study abroad program if I enrolled in an intensive summer program a few months before the study abroad program began and passed it.

and you have an actual written guarantee such as: we guarantee you will be allowed to.... if you....

 

[SecretName]

My university Dean/ President just got back to me:

They admitted university personnel told me the program would be enough, but will still not let me do the program because they are saying what that person said was incorrect.

This has cost me $10000 for the wasted program, 2 months doing the program, and thousands of dollars wasted in flight plans.

I simply want to know: can I sue to get my money back/ to make them change their mind? That is all I want to know. If I can, who should I go about contacting and how will the legal process cost me money. I'm not familiar with suing.

Thank you for your help.

 

[quincy]

My university Dean/ President just got back to me:

They admitted university personnel told me the program would be enough, but will still not let me do the program because they are saying what that person said was incorrect.

This has cost me $10000 for the wasted program, 2 months doing the program, and thousands of dollars wasted in flight plans.

I simply want to know: can I sue to get my money back/ to make them change their mind? That is all I want to know. If I can, who should I go about contacting and how will the legal process cost me money. I'm not familiar with suing.

Thank you for your help.

So, you decided not to take the exam and do the interview, huh? I find that an odd choice but, oh well ...

Sure, you can sue because anyone can sue anyone else for pretty much any reason at all. Will you get your money back or make the school change their program and policies for you? I don't see it happening.

If you are intent on pursuing this, you can contact an attorney in your area who is well-versed in education laws and pay him some money to look into the matter.

 

[Isis1]

I would like to know the exact wording of this e-mail.


taking this summer program "qualifies" you or "guarantees" you entry?

did you miss a deadline for completion somewhere?

what other requirements are needed to be done? is there another program at another date in the future?

 

[SecretName]

Yes. I was promised, in writing, acceptance to the program.

They said "spend $10,000 and two months doing this program and you are in."

So I did that and started arranging flights (which cost even more money).

Now they are saying "we did assure you acceptance, but we are not going to accept you because we should not have made that promise."

So, I e-mailed the President's Office and told them they have 24 hours to accept me to the program or I am suing them for lost funds and time, and also for violating the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - they recently held discussions about my academic records with another university.

So... we'll see what they say... I don't see how a university can lie like this, costing people tens of thousands of dollars and months of time and just get away with it...

Some of my professor friends are currently pressuring the university President to just accept me to the program.

Question: how much would suing cost? Is it by the hour, based off of whether or when, paid by service/ consultation, etc?

Thanks for your help.

 

[SecretName]

Just to clarify:

1) Everything is in writing.

2) Literally, everything is word for word in writing, no exaggeration. I was literally guaranteed acceptance.

 

[eerelations]

Given that you probably don't have a case (because "do the program and you're in" is ambiguous at best, most university programs have exams at the end of them and many have interviews as well, it's possible the clerk who told you this thought you, like most people, would be aware of this), why would you choose suing over simply writing the exam and attending the interview? (And rest assured, you will be compelled to answer this question if your "case" ever makes it into a courtroom.) I means what's so hard about an exam and an interview?

 

[Zigner]

Given that you probably don't have a case (because "do the program and you're in" is ambiguous at best, most university programs have exams at the end of them and many have interviews as well, it's possible the clerk who told you this thought you, like most people, would be aware of this), why would you choose suing over simply writing the exam and attending the interview? (And rest assured, you will be compelled to answer this question if your "case" ever makes it into a courtroom.) I means what's so hard about an exam and an interview?

Particularly since the exam and interview are likely part of "the program".

 

[SecretName]

I was guaranteed that I would not have any further entrance requirements to fulfill. Additionally, the examinations would be done by a person who has deliberately told me they do not want me doing the program, at all whatsoever.

Of course the program has requirements other than the summer program, but I had already completed those other requirements and informed in writing that I would just need to complete the program to finish the requirements.

I am about to call a lawyer who has offered me a consultation over the phone after reading an e-mail I sent in.

 

[Zigner]

I was guaranteed that I would not have any further entrance requirements to fulfill. Additionally, the examinations would be done by a person who has deliberately told me they do not want me doing the program, at all whatsoever.

Of course the program has requirements other than the summer program, but I had already completed those other requirements and informed in writing that I would just need to complete the program to finish the requirements.

I am about to call a lawyer who has offered me a consultation over the phone after reading an e-mail I sent in.

Best of luck...

 

[SecretName]

Here's another way to look at this situation:

Let's say I did the exam (and I still am not certain of what exactly is would consist of) and then I passed it:

Well, that's fabulous and maybe they will then decide to admit me, but I shouldn't have to deal with any of that bureaucratic nonsense. When someone says they will give you something, they should simply give it to you.

However, let's say I do the exam and "fail" it. Then, I would be denied admission and this would violate the agreement I had with the university, so I am back to simply suing.

Therefore, I see this "exam" as nothing more than a waste of time.

 

[Zigner]

Here's another way to look at this situation:

Let's say I did the exam (and I still am not certain of what exactly is would consist of) and then I passed it:

Well, that's fabulous and maybe they will then decide to admit me, but I shouldn't have to deal with any of that bureaucratic nonsense. When someone says they will give you something, they should simply give it to you.

Sure, but at least you're in the program and haven't poured good money after bad.

However, let's say I do the exam and "fail" it. Then, I would be denied admission and this would violate the agreement I had with the university, so I am back to simply suing.

That's a bridge that you can cross when/if you come to it.

Therefore, I see this "exam" as nothing more than a waste of time.

NOT taking it will end up being a waste of money.

You DO understand that whatever you spend on the attorney isn't going to be reimbursed, right?

 

[eerelations]

If you actually get to court, you will be compelled to answer the question "Why didn't you just take the exam and attend the interview?" You really need to come up with a better answer than "I had no idea that exams were a regular part of university educational programs, plus exams are a waste of time, and oh yeah, also the guy conducting the exam doesn't like me."