Pennsylvania College of Technology Reaches $1.85 Million Settlement in COVID-19 Shutdown Lawsuit: What This Means for Students and the Community

This week, the board of directors at Pennsylvania College of Technology decided to settle a class action lawsuit for $1.85 million. This case started because of the COVID-19 shutdown that affected students during the Spring 2020 semester.

Before any settlement can happen, it needs approval from the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas.

The board explained their choice by stating it would save time and money. They wanted to avoid the lengthy process of defending against these claims, similar to what other colleges and universities have done.

In 2020, Michael Lawson Jr. and his mother filed the lawsuit in Philadelphia County. They sought refunds for tuition, room, board, and other fees, arguing that after the college moved classes online, students didn’t receive full value for their payments.

Lawson Jr. attended Penn College’s in-person program, but once the campus closed, he lost access to classes and facilities. He claimed that the college refused to refund his tuition and fees.

In response, the college highlighted the sudden transition to online learning required by the state during the pandemic. They believed that faculty and staff worked hard to adapt to these changes for students. Although they wanted to stay open, they were not allowed.

Once the state’s shutdown order was lifted, Penn College welcomed students back. However, they now face a lawsuit for having to switch to online instruction during that required shutdown.

At the time of the shutdown, there were over 4,200 students enrolled on campus. The lawsuit focused on the point that an in-person learning experience is vital to the college’s marketing and educational mission.

The college maintained that their actions were in the best interest of the students and stressed that they do not admit any wrongdoing.

As part of the settlement, many of the funds are expected to go back to students who paid for the Spring 2020 semester. If the court gives preliminary approval, those students will receive information about their rights regarding the settlement in the coming months.

The college plans to refrain from any additional comments until the case is fully resolved.

Class action lawsuits allow many individuals with similar claims to seek resolution in one go. This approach can prevent repetitive cases and help those with smaller claims find justice.

On February 4, Judge Eric R. Linhardt granted class certification. Michael Lawson Jr. was named the Class Representative, which includes all students who paid tuition and fees for in-person classes during Spring 2020.