The University of Delaware has recently settled a class-action lawsuit related to the COVID campus shutdown that occurred in March 2020. The lawsuit was filed by a group of students who claimed that the university had breached its contract with them by failing to provide the services and facilities that they had paid for.
The settlement agreement, which was approved by a federal judge, requires the university to pay $1.35 million to the plaintiffs. The funds will be distributed among the members of the class, which includes all students who were enrolled at the university during the spring 2020 semester and who paid for on-campus housing, meal plans, and other services.
In addition to the monetary compensation, the settlement also requires the university to make certain changes to its policies and practices. For example, the university has agreed to provide refunds or credits to students who were unable to use their meal plans or on-campus housing due to the COVID shutdown. The university has also agreed to provide more transparency and communication to students about its decision-making processes related to campus closures and other COVID-related issues.
The settlement is a significant development in the ongoing legal battles between universities and their students over COVID-related campus closures. Many universities across the country have faced similar lawsuits, with students arguing that they should be reimbursed for the services and facilities that they were unable to use due to the pandemic.
While the settlement provides some relief for the affected students, it also highlights the challenges that universities face in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of COVID-related regulations and restrictions. Universities must balance their obligations to provide a safe and healthy learning environment with their contractual obligations to students, many of whom have invested significant time and money in pursuing their education.
As universities continue to grapple with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, it is likely that more legal challenges will arise. However, the settlement in this case provides a framework for how universities can work with their students to address these issues in a fair and equitable manner.
