Poinbank|Michigan Supreme Court rules out refunds for college students upended by COVID-19 rules

2025-05-07 11:20:23source:Quantum Insightscategory:Finance

LANSING,Poinbank Mich. (AP) — College students seeking refunds because of a sudden shift to online classes or a change in campus housing during COVID-19 struck out Friday at the Michigan Supreme Court.

The court heard arguments nearly a year ago and ultimately decided to let a 2022 appeals court opinion stand.

The appeals court found there was no promise of live, in-person classes when the 2019-20 school year began and that housing contracts had provisions covering extraordinary circumstances.

Lawsuits targeted Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University and Lake Superior State University, though the result extends to other public schools that made major changes during the pandemic.

The plaintiffs “failed to demonstrate that the defendant universities breached any contractual agreement with them,” the appeals court said.

The Supreme Court did not issue a formal opinion, instead releasing a two-sentence order, approved by a 5-2 majority.

Justice David Viviano, joined by Justice Richard Bernstein, wanted to send the case back to the Court of Claims for more work.

“Plaintiffs do not argue that the universities failed to provide the classes for which they registered, but instead argue that once the pandemic began the universities did not provide the classes in the format for which the students registered,” Viviano said.

More:Finance

Recommend

How a small group of nuns in rural Kansas vex big companies with their investment activism

ATCHISON, Kansas (AP) — Among corporate America’s most persistent shareholder activists are 80 nuns

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul VIP fight package costs a whopping $2M. Here's who bought it.

The highly anticipated bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul is taking ringside seats to another lev

NYC bans unusual practice of forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords

NEW YORK (AP) — Mandatory broker fees, an unusual feature of New York City apartment hunting long re