US District Judge Matthew Kennelly in Chicago has preliminarily approved settlements totaling over $104 million between major U.S. universities and a proposed class of students. The lawsuit, initiated in 2022, accused several renowned institutions, including Brown, Columbia, and Yale, of giving preferential treatment to wealthy applicants, thereby violating fair admission practices, reported Reuters.
The settlements, deemed reasonable by Judge Kennelly, mark a step forward in addressing the allegations brought forth by the students. Notable agreements include Yale and Emory committing to pay $18.5 million each, while Brown, Columbia, and Duke have agreed to pay $19.5 million, $24 million, and $24 million, respectively. Despite agreeing to settlements, the schools maintain their stance of denying any liability.
However, the legal battle continues as the case progresses against 10 other institutions, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dartmouth College, and Georgetown University. These schools, accused of similar practices, are yet to reach settlement agreements.
The lawsuit alleges that admissions offices at these universities did not uphold their claimed “need-blind” policies, instead unlawfully considering applicants’ financial backgrounds in admission decisions. The proposed class, consisting of hundreds of thousands of current and former students, seeks billions of dollars in damages.
According to court filings, the average payout to members of the class is anticipated to be $750. While settlements with most universities have been disclosed, the terms of an additional proposed settlement with Vanderbilt University remain undisclosed at this time.
Eric Cramer, chairman of Berger Montague and representing the students, stated that negotiations with some schools are ongoing while preparations for trial against others are underway. The outcome of these negotiations and the impending trials will likely shape the future landscape of college admissions practices in the United States.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the spotlight remains on the integrity of the admissions process at prestigious academic institutions, raising questions about fairness, transparency, and equity in higher education.
Featured News
Google and South Carolina Clash Over State Records Demand
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Telefonica Germany Teams Up with Amazon Web Services to Migrate 5G Customers
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Federal Judge Grants $7.4 Million Settlement in Pork Price-Fixing Case
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Wilson Sonsini Bolsters Antitrust and Competition Practice with Key Partner Returns
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
EU to Scrutinize Telecom Italia’s Network Sale to KKR
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI