Gustavson v. The Catholic University of America

Case No. 20-cv-01496-DLF
United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Address Update and Payment Selection Form

Welcome to the Settlement Website for the
Gustavson v. The Catholic University of America Settlement

IF YOU ATTENDED THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA DURING THE SPRING 2020 SEMESTER, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CASH COMPENSATION FROM A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. THE NOTICE EXPLAINS YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS AND THE DEADLINES TO EXERCISE THEM.

  • A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit between Defendant The Catholic University of America (“Defendant” or “Catholic”) and Plaintiff Haley Gustavson who alleges that she and the Settlement Class Members are entitled to partial refunds of tuition and fees for the Spring 2020 Semester because Catholic transitioned to remote learning in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case is Gustavson v. The Catholic University of America, 20-cv-01496, United States District Court for the District of Columbia (the “Lawsuit”). The proposed Settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by Catholic, and Catholic denies all allegations of wrongdoing and disclaims all liability with regard to all claims in the Lawsuit. Catholic also maintains that it transitioned to remote instruction to protect the health of its students, faculty and staff and in compliance with mandatory government shutdown orders, and settled this lawsuit to avoid further litigation. The Court has granted preliminary approval of the Settlement and has conditionally certified the Settlement Class for purposes of settlement only. The Court has not decided who is right.
  • You are a member of the Settlement Class if you were a Catholic undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in the Spring 2020 Semester who did not withdraw by March 18, 2020 for whom any amount of tuition and/or fees was paid to Catholic from any source other than a scholarship, grant or tuition remission from Catholic, and whose tuition or fees have not been fully refunded by Catholic. But, you are not a Settlement Class Member if you opt out of the Settlement, or if you received a full scholarship, grant or tuition remission from Catholic and thus did not pay any tuition or fees for the Spring 2020 semester.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT

DO NOTHING

Settlement Class Members who do nothing automatically receive a payment by check to their last known mailing address as reflected in Catholic’s records after the Effective Date of the Settlement Agreement. You will give up any rights you may have to sue Catholic about the issues in the Lawsuit.

UPDATE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS OR CHANGE YOUR PAYMENT OPTIONS

Settlement Class Members may click here to (a) provide an updated address for sending a check or (b) elect to receive the payment by Venmo or PayPal instead of a check.

EXCLUDE YOURSELF

You will not receive a payment, but you will retain any rights you have to sue Catholic about the issues in the Lawsuit.

OBJECT

Write to the Court explaining why you don’t like the Settlement. If the Court approves the Settlement, you will be bound by the Court’s decision and the Settlement Agreement.

ATTEND A HEARING

Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement.

These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in the Notice. Please review the Notice carefully.

The Court presiding over the Lawsuit still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement. The payment made available by this Settlement will be provided only if the Court approves the Settlement and after any issues with the Settlement are resolved. Please be patient.

Upcoming Important Dates

Objection Deadline

12/23/2024

Opt Out Deadline

12/23/2024

Final Approval Hearing

1/23/2025 at 10:00 a.m.

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