Student objects to Trump University settlement: report

A former Trump University student is objecting to the proposed $25 million settlement that would end a trio of lawsuits against President Trump’s real estate education seminars, according to a new report.

Sherri Simpson said she opposes the settlement because she wanted a chance to opt out and sue Trump individually, Politico said Monday.

Simpson cannot do so under the proposed agreement, Political reported, because it is a class-action lawsuit that was tentatively settled last November.

{mosads}The proposed settlement is expected to pay refunds of about 50 cents on the dollar for what students initially paid to attend the now-defunct program.

“If the settlement indeed represents 50 cents on the dollar of loss, as has been reported, it is certainly a beneficial settlement by the standards of class actions,” Simpson’s lawyer, Gary B. Friedman, wrote in the objection filed in San Diego District Court Monday.

“But there is no principle of law or fairness that requires Sherri Simpson to accept 50 cents on the dollar. What Ms. Simpson seeks is her day in court, [including seeking] full damages plus punitive damages and injunctive relief.”

Politico said San Diego District Judge Gonzalo Curiel could delay the settlement or even call the entire deal into question should he heed the objection.

Curiel has scheduled a March 30 hearing over the settlement’s fairness, which does not include an “opt-out” for participants leaving the class-action suit all together.

Former Trump University students can object to the proposed settlement’s terms, Politico said, but they are incapable of leaving the suit to take separate action against Trump.

Politico said a total of 13 former students have previously opted out of class-action lawsuits and could bring individual suits against Trump.

Trump University essentially shut down in 2010, making it unclear whether former students could press forward with individual lawsuits due to statue-of-limitation rules.

Trump agreed to a $25 million settlement regarding Trump University on Nov. 18, 2016, eliminating the possibility he would have to testify over the controversial program.

The settlement effectively ended a class-action suit in California, another suit there and a third in New York.

Former students allege Trump University pushed them to pay up to $35,000 for real estate classes that taught them little from poorly-qualified instructors.

Trump acknowledged in past depositions that he did not pick seminar leaders, which former students said were advertised with false promises about their business acumen.