Low, et al. vs.
Trump University, LLC., et al.

United States District Court
for the Southern District of California
No. 3:10-cv-00940

Cohen vs. Donald J. Trump

United States District Court
for the Southern District of California
No. 3:13-cv-02519

Important Dates

• March 6, 2017
  Claim Filing Postmark Deadline - Passed
• March 6, 2017
  Objection Received by Deadline - Passed
• March 30, 2017
  Final Approval Hearing - Taken Under Submission
• March 31, 2017
  Settlement Agreement – Approved & Signed
• May 1, 2017
  Notice of Appeal Filed – Settlement Status TBD
• November 15, 2017 at 9:00 am
  Appeal – Oral Argument

1. How do I submit a claim form?

   The claim filing deadline passed on March 6, 2017. You must have timely submitted a claim form to receive payment.

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2. How much money will I get, and when?

   It will depend on how many class members file claim forms on time. Based on the total amount of Trump University live seminars and mentorships that were purchased in the United States, we currently expect eligible class members will receive 90 percent of their purchase price back, however this amount could increase or decrease as claims are still being reviewed. Restitution payment will not be paid until claim processing concludes, claimants have a chance to provide additional information, and calculations are finalized. This process takes time and could take months. We ask that you remain patient, as we intend to mail payments as soon as possible. This website will be update periodically with any new developments.

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3. Why should I read this website?

   If you purchased a "Trump University" Live Event – which includes live seminars and in-field mentorships, like the 3-day “Fulfillment” seminar and “Elite” programs, within the United States, and have not received a full refund, you may be a Class Member. The Honorable Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California is overseeing these class actions. The lawsuits are known as Cohen vs. Donald J. Trump, Case No. 3:13-cv-02519 (the Nationwide Action) and Low, et al. vs. Trump University, LLC, et al., Case No. 3:10-cv-00940 (California/Florida/New York Action). In May 2016, the name of the Makaeff Action was changed from Makaeff, et al. vs. Trump University, LLC., et al. to Low, et al. vs. Trump University, LLC., et al. An agreement has been reached to settle these lawsuits.

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4. What are these lawsuits about?

   Plaintiffs allege that Trump University and Trump violated federal law across the country and state law (in California, Florida, and New York) by promising, but not delivering access to Trump’s real estate techniques taught by “hand-picked” professors at an elite “university,” when in fact Trump was not substantively involved in the Live Events curriculum or selecting the instructors and the New York State Education Department had warned Trump it was unlawful to call it a “university.” Defendants deny the claims and deny wrongdoing.

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5. What is a class action and who is involved?

   In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. In the Cohen Action, it is Art Cohen. In the Low Action, it is John Brown, J.R. Everett and Sonny Low. All the students are a “Class” or “Class Members.” The people who sue are called the “Plaintiffs.” The companies and/or individuals that are being sued are called the “Defendants,” which are Trump University, LLC and Donald J. Trump in the Low (California/Florida/New York) Action, and Donald J. Trump in the Cohen (Nationwide) Action. One court resolves the issues for everyone in the Classes – except for those people who chose to exclude themselves from the Classes.

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6. Why are these lawsuits class actions?

   The Court decided that these lawsuits can be certified as class actions because they meet the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, which governs class actions in federal courts. Specifically, the Court found that:

   • The Classes were so numerous that combining the claims of all Class Members in one case would be impracticable;
   • There are legal questions and facts that are common to each of the members of the Classes;
   • Mr. Cohen’s claims are typical in the Cohen Action and John Brown, and J.R. Everett, and Sonny Low’s claims are typical in the Low Action;
   • John Brown, J.R. Everett, Sonny Low, and Art Cohen, along with their attorneys, will fairly and adequately represent the Classes’ interests;
   • The common legal questions and facts are more important than questions that affect only individuals; and
   • These class actions will be more efficient than having many individual lawsuits.

   More information about why the Court is allowing these lawsuits to be class actions is in the Court’s Orders on the Motions for Class Certification, which are available here.

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7. What do the lawsuits complain about?

   In both actions, Plaintiffs allege that Trump University and Trump uniformly marketed and misrepresented their Live Events as offering Trump’s real estate techniques taught by his “hand-picked” professors and adjunct professors at his elite “university.” Plaintiffs allege that these representations were false because Trump had no substantive involvement in the selection of the Live Events instructors or the content of the Live Events and that the New York State Education Department warned Trump not to use the “university” title or to continue operating without a license, but he defied those directives.

   The Cohen (Nationwide) Action alleges that the above fraudulent scheme violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and each member of the Class is entitled to triple the amount of their purchase price of Trump University Live Events.

   The Low (California/Florida/New York) Action alleges that the above false statements constitute a violation of the unfair trade and competition and false advertising laws of California, Florida, and New York, as well as laws of California and Florida specifically protecting senior citizens from financial abuse.

   You can read the Plaintiffs’ Class Action Complaints in both lawsuits here.

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8. How do Trump University and Trump answer the allegations?

   Trump University and Trump deny that they did anything wrong. Trump University and Trump say that their statements to purchasers were truthful and that purchasers received a valuable real estate education when they purchased Trump University Live Events. Trump University and Trump’s Answers to the Complaints in the Actions are also available here.

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9. Is there any money available now?

   The Court-approved Settlement Agreement will provide approximately $22.5 million into a Settlement Fund to disburse between the two lawsuits. The settlement will be paid out to members of both classes on a pro rata basis. We currently expect eligible class members will receive 90 percent of their purchase price back, however this amount could increase or decrease as claims are still being reviewed. Restitution payment will not be paid until claim processing concludes, claimants have a chance to provide additional information, and calculations are finalized. This process takes time and could take months. We ask that you remain patient, as we intend to mail payments as soon as possible.

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10. Am I part of the Classes?

    The Court ruled that all persons who purchased "Trump University" Live Events within the United States since 2007 and have not received a full refund are Class Members in the Cohen (Nationwide) Action. Purchasers in the states of California, Florida, and New York who have not received full refunds may be Class Members in the Cohen (Nationwide) Action as well as the Low (California/Florida/New York) Action.

    The Class definitions in the Court’s orders are as follows:

    In the Cohen (Nationwide) Class Action, the Class is defined as:

    All persons who purchased Live Events from Trump University throughout the United States from January 1, 2007 to the present. Excluded from the Class are Trump University, its affiliates, employees, officers and directors, persons or entities that distribute or sell Trump University products or programs, the Judge(s) assigned to this case, and the attorneys of record in the case.

    In the Low(California/Florida/New York) Class Action, the Class is defined as:

    All persons who purchased a Trump University three-day live “Fulfillment” workshop and/or a “Elite” program (“Live Events”) in California, New York and Florida, and have not received a full refund, divided into the following five subclasses:

    1. a California UCL/CLRA/Misleading Advertisement subclass of purchasers of the Trump University Fulfillment and Elite Seminars who purchased the program in California within the applicable statute of limitations;
    2. a California Financial Elder Abuse subclass of purchasers of the Trump University Fulfillment and Elite Seminars who were over the age of 65 years of age when they purchased the program in California within the applicable statute of limitations;
    3. a New York General Business Law §349 subclass of purchasers of the Trump University Fulfillment and Elite Seminars who purchased the program in New York within the applicable statute of limitations;
    4. a Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act (FDUTPA)/Misleading Advertising Law subclass of purchasers of the Trump University Fulfillment and Elite Seminars who purchased the program in Florida within the applicable statute of limitations; and
    5. a Florida Financial Elder Abuse subclass of purchasers of the Trump University Fulfillment and Elite Seminars who were over the age of 60 years of age when they purchased the program in Florida within the applicable statute of limitations.

    Excluded from the class are Defendants, their officers and directors, families and legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns and any entity in which Defendants have a controlling interest, any Judge assigned to this case, and their immediate families.

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11. Are any purchasers of Trump University not included in the Classes?

    If you did not purchase at least one "Trump University" Live Event within the United States, you are not a member of either Class. If you purchased only online classes from Trump University, but did not purchase a Live Event such as a live seminar or an in-person mentorship, you are not a member of either Class. If you only purchased a seminar from “Trump Entrepreneur Initiative” since June 2010, you are not a Class Member but you may be able to participate in a settlement reached by the New York Attorney General. For more information, please see: www.ag.ny.gov.

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12. What is the status of my claim?

    We are currently processing and reviewing all submitted claims. If you have not heard from us, then there is no action required on your part. We will be sending notices regarding the decision made on your claim submission.

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13. I received a notice of an incomplete claim, is there anything I can do?

    If you received a notice of an incomplete claim, then we have determined that:

    1. Your name did not match back to the court-approved initial class data; or
    2. The Trump University products that you listed on your Claim did not match the court-approved initial class purchase records.

    In order to be eligible for payment, please provide documentation that you purchased a Trump University Live Event in the United States from 2007 through May 23, 2010, and did not received a full refund. “Live Events” include any in-person seminar and/or “Bronze,” “Silver” or “Gold Elite” programs, including an in-person mentorship. You are NOT part of the class action settlement if you only purchased a live event from Trump Institute, Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, Trump Education, Trump University in Canada, or any other Trump entity other than Trump University. You are also NOT part of the settlement if you only purchased an online course or phone coaching from Trump University.

    Please submit proof of purchase and we will reevaluate your claim submission. Supporting documents may include, but are not limited to, the following:

    • Cancelled check(s)
    • Proof of payment/electronic funds transferred
    • Paper receipts
    • Credit Card receipts and statements
    • Invoices marked “Paid”

    Please send these documents to:

    Trump University Settlement Administrator
    PO Box 4109
    Portland, OR 97208-4109

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14. How do I ask the Court to exclude me from the Classes?

    The deadline to “opt-out” of these lawsuits was November 16, 2015. and has passed. The deadline for filing any objection to the settlement was March 6, 2017 and has passed.

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15. Do I have a lawyer in these cases?

    The Court decided that the law firms of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Zeldes Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, both from San Diego, California, are qualified to represent you and all Class Members. These firms are called “Class Counsel.” The law firms are experienced in handling similar class action cases. More information about the firms, their practices and their lawyers’ experience is available at www.rgrdlaw.com and www.haelaw.com. You can call 800-449-4900 or write to Rachel Jensen, 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101, for more information.

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16. Should I get my own lawyer?

    You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel is working on your behalf. But, if you want your own lawyer, you will have to pay that lawyer.

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17. How will the lawyers be paid?

    Our law firms, who represented the former Trump University students for six years, are not getting paid. Our representation was provided on a pro bono basis (for the public good). We are waiving all of our attorneys’ fees and expenses in these cases.

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18. How and when will the Court decide who is right?

    The Court did not determine which party was right because the parties reached a settlement that ended the litigation. On November 18, 2016, Donald Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations by former students of fraudulent practices from his for-profit education venture, Trump University. Under the terms of this settlement, every eligible victim will receive restitution and Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violation of state education laws. Under the agreement, Mr. Trump will pay approximately $22.5 million to settle the two California class-action lawsuits and approximately $2.5 million to settle with the New York attorney general. The lawyers for the plaintiffs waived their attorneys’ fees.

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19. Are more details available?

    Visit the important documents where you will find the Court’s Orders on the Plaintiffs’ Motions for Class Certification, the Complaints that Plaintiffs submitted, Trump University, and Trump’s Answers to the Complaints. For additional information, you can also call 866-841-7311, or write to: Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York at 30 East 33rd Street, ATTN: Trump Restitution Fund, New York, NY 10016.

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20. How do the Class Actions Relate to the Settlement reached by the New York Attorney General?

    The New York Attorney General’s action was brought under New York law and involved many of the same allegations as the Class Actions. Consumers can be members of one or both of the class actions (the Cohen and/or Low Actions) and also covered by the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit. However, consumers whose Live Event purchases were prior to May 24, 2010, will only recover once under these settlements – as part of the class actions. Consumers who purchased on or after May 24, 2010, will be eligible for relief from the New York Attorney General action.

    PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR WRITE THE COURT FOR INFORMATION OR ADVICE.

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