Class action lawsuit against Wartburg College asks for tuition refunds after COVID-19 forced closures

WAVERLY, Iowa (KWWL) – A class action lawsuit was filed against Wartburg College in Bremer County on Monday. Plaintiff Sydney Warner is seeking reimbursement of tuition and other fees on behalf of others affected by the pandemic.

Warner is a music student who along with others feels like they paid too much for what he was given after COVID-19 restrictions were introduced on campus. Wartburg switched to online teaching on March 18, 2020 along with many other colleges and universities across the country.

A lawyer working on the case says he is confident of getting the students their money.

“We only look at cases that we believe are viable and that we believe can be successful and make a difference for the students,” said attorney Bart Goplerud.

There have been many lawsuits of this type that have been dismissed across the country. The majority of these cases focused on the poor quality education during the distance learning phase of the pandemic.

The lawsuit against Wartburg is somewhat different.

“In these cases, attempts were made to get tuition reimbursement because the education was lower or the quality was not the same,” said Goplerud. Personal experiences promised by colleges or universities. “

The lawsuit lists many experiences on campus, such as: B. In-person tuition, after-school activities, access to on-campus facilities, and hands-on learning.

“They closed the gyms, they closed the laboratories, they closed the libraries. They closed all opportunities for the student to experience life on campus,” he said.

A semester at Wartburg College can cost over $ 21,000 with no additional tuition fees.

Students who were forced to end their spring semester 2020 online. The lawsuit alleges that her college experience was in no way comparable to that of pre-pandemic.

“While the colleges and universities did an excellent job protecting the students from COVID exposure, they closed the opportunity to enjoy this personal experience on campus,” said Goplerud.

Room and board are not currently included in this lawsuit but can be added after additional review.

Wartburg offers every full-time senior and newcomer a fifth year free of tuition between 2020 and 2021.

The ongoing discussion or any kind of resolution can last anywhere from 18 months to 4 years.

The KWWL reached out to Wartburg College for comment, but was unable to discuss any pending litigation.

Read Sydney Warner’s lawsuit against Wartburg College here:

Wartburg Lawsuit

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