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1 CI
1 -ESER E
'ESER
CIT‐ESERVE FELICIA PITRE
FELICIA PI RE
RIC CLERK
DISTRICT
DIS
DALLAS co., TEXAS
DALLAS CO.,
00., E AS
Christi Underwood DEP
C DEPUTY
DC-20-11139
CAUSE N O . DC-20-1 1 139
CA SE N0.
NO.
L
L U KE
K E HOGAN,
HOGAN, 0
o n behalf 0o f himself and I N T HE
IN H E DIS R I C T CO
D I S TRIC C O UR
RT OF
OF
other individuals similarly situated,
,
Plaintiff,
P ,
DALLAS
D A L L A S CO N , T E XAS
COUNTY, AS
vs.
O O
S.
.
SO HERN ME
SOUTHERN HODIS UNIVERSITY
METHODIST NI ERSI
and other affiliated entities and individuals,
,
Defendants
D 191ST
191ST J
J UDICIAL D I S TRIC
D I C I A L DIS RICT
PLAIN
PLAINTIFF’S CLASS AC
IFF S ORIGINAL CLASS A C TION
I O N PE I O N AND
P E TII TION AND J R DEMAND
JURY DEMAND
others similarly situated, , alleges the following upon information and belief,
, by his attorneys, ,
NATURE
EA OF T HE
LJRE QF ACTION
H E AQ IQN
1.
1. This class action is brought on behalf 0of N Luke H
Named PPlaintiff L Hogan and those
similarly situated who paid tuition and fees for the SSpring 2020
2020 semester at SSouthern MMethodist
University.
. AAs a result 0of DDefendants’ response to0 the NNovel CCoronavirus DDisease 2019
2019
(“COVID-l9”),
( CO ID-19 ), PPlaintiffs did not receive the benefits and services that they bargained for when
2.
2. Plaintiffs and DDefendants entered into a contract where PPlaintiffs would provide
P
payment in the form 0of tuition and fees and DDefendants would provide in-person educational
, experiences,
services, , opportunities,
, and other related services.
.
3.
3. O 12, 2020,
March 12,
On 0or around M 2020, SSouthern MMethodist University canceled all in‑-
4.
4. Based 0on these
B closures,
, DDefendants have failed to uphold their end of the contract
5.
5. Despite DDefendants’
D failure to provide the services and experiences as bargained
for,, Defendants
D have not offered any refund of the tuition and fees that PPlaintiff and the CClass
paid.
.
DISCO E RY LE
D I S C O V ER E L AND
L E VEL A N D RULE 4 7 STATEMENT
R U L E 47 S TAT E M E N T
6.
6. Plaintiffs
P intend to0 conduct discovery under LLevel 3,
3, pursuant to0 TTexas RRule of
Civil Procedure
C P 190.4, and request that
190.4, the CCourt enter a scheduling order in this case.
.
7.
7. As required by RRule 47
A 47 of the TTexas RRules 0of CCivil PProcedure,
, PPlaintiffs plead for
$1,000,000 and judgment for all other relief to0 which they are
monetary relief in an amount over $1,000,000
entitled.. However,
H , PPlaintiffs believe that the amount 0
of monetary relief actually awarded as
FA
FA T
T
8.
8. Plaintiff
P Members are individuals that paid tuition and fees for the
and CClass M
Spring Semester
S S 2020 at SSouthern MMethodist UUniversity.
.
9.
9. Defendants
D accepted PPlaintiffs and CClass M
Members’ payments in exchange for
, experiences,
educational services, , and opportunities as detailed in D
Defendants’ marketing,
,
advertisements,
, and other public representations.
.
10.
10. on the academic schedule,
Based 0
B , the S 2020 semester at SSouthern MMethodist
Spring 2020
University
U 17, 2020,
commenced 0on or around JJan.. 17, 2020, and it was scheduled to conclude 0on 0or
11.
11. N Luke H
Named PPlaintiff L Hogan was a full-time
- graduate student in the management
program during the SSpring 2020 semester.
. SSouthern MMethodist UUniversity charged plaintiff
approximately $25,000
$25,000 in tuition and fees during the SSpring 2020 semester.
.
12.
12. Plaintiffs
P paid tuition and fees for in-person
- educational services,
, experiences,
,
, commencement exercises,
opportunities, , and other related collegiate services for the entire period
13.
13. According
A to0 publicly available information,
, the average tuition cost for both in‑
-
Southern MMethodistUniversity.
S U .
14.
14. O 12, 2020,
March 12,
On 0or around M 2020, SSouthern MMethodist UUniversity announced that
that all learning would transition to online beginning 0on or around M 26, 2020.
March 26, 2020.
15.
15. Defendants were
D unable to provide in-person
- , services,
educational experiences, ,
16.
16. Prior
P to0 the suspension of in-person
- classes for the SSpring 2020 semester,
,
Luke H
Plaintiff L
P Hogan attended campus events and was involved in student activities and/or
/ clubs.
.
17.
17. As a result 0of DDefendants’ closure,
A Defendants have not complied with their
, D
18.
18. Plaintiff and the CClass
P did not enter into an agreement with DDefendants for online
19.
19. Therefore,
T Plaintiff and CClass
, P Members are entitled to a pro-rata
M - refund of the
J
J URISDIC I O N AND
R I S D I C TION EN E
A N D VENUE
20.
20. This CCourt has subject matter jurisdiction because PPlaintiffs seek damages within
21.
21. This CCourt has personal jurisdiction over DDefendants because SSouthern MMethodist
University is a Texas entity and maintains its principal place 0of business in DDallas CCounty,
, Texas.
.
22.
22. Venue is proper in DDallas C
County pursuant to Tex.
. CCiv.
. P . &
Prac. & R . C
Rem. Code AAnn.
. §
this County,
C Defendants operate their primary campus in this CCounty.
, and because D .
PAR IES
PARTIES
23.
23. N Hogan is a resident of KKeller,
Luke H
Named PPlaintiff L , Texas.
. PPlaintiff was enrolled
as a fiill‐time
- graduate student at SSouthern MMethodist University during the SSpring 2020
semester.
. PPlaintiff graduated at the conclusion 0of the semester.
. PPlaintiff has not received any
24.
24. Defendant SSouthern MMethodist University ((“Southern
D S Methodist” 0or
M SM ) is a
“SMU”)
private university and a Texas corporation whose principal place 0of business is located in DDallas,
,
. This Defendant
Texas. D may be served through its registered agent as follows:
: P J. Ward:
Paul J. ,
P . BBuilding,
Perkins AAdmin. 6425 B
, 6425 , R
Boaz LLane, Room 130, , TX 75205.
130, DDallas, 75205.
SQLASS ALLES
QLASS A L L E g i AT 255
A II g 213 S
25.
25. Plaintiff
P brings this matter on behalf 0of himself and those similarly situated. As
. A
Plaintiffs paid tuition and fees to0 receive during the SSpring SSemester 2020.
P 2020.
26.
26. Plaintiffs
P were impacted by and damaged by this misconduct.
.
4
4
27.
27. Accordingly,
Acc d action is ideally
, this ac dea situated
a ed f a -W de resolution.
for cclass-wide e .
28.
28. The
T Class
e C a is de ed aas aall individuals
defined d d a who paid
a d tuition a
and fees to0 SSouthern
d fee e
Methodist
Me d University
U e to0 receive
ece e in-person
e educational
ed ca a services,
e experiences,
ce , e e e ce , aand
d
opportunities
e dduring thee SSpring Se
Semester 2020. ((“Class”).
e e 2020. C a ).
29.
29. The
T e CClass
a is properly
e brought aand
b d should be maintained
d be a a ed aas aa cclass
a action
ac
under
de Te a Rule
Texas of CCivil PProcedure
R e 0f 42 satisfying
ced e 42 a f thee cclass
a action prerequisites
ac e e e of
0f
numerosity,
e , ccommonality,
a , typicality,
ca and
, a adequacy
d ade because:
ac beca e:
30.
30. Numerosity:
N e : CClass
a Me be
Members are
a e so numerous
e a joinder
that of aall members
de 0f e be is
impracticable.
ac cab e. P Plaintiff
a believes
ff be a there
e e that e thousands
are
e e a of individuals
a d 0f d d a W
who aaree CClass
a
Members
Me be described
de c bed ab eW
above who have damaged
been da
a e bee by Defe
a ed b Defendants
da breach
b eac off ccontract.
ac .
31.
31. Commonality:
C a : T e questions
The e of law
0f a aand fact c
d fac common to
0 the Class
e C a Me be
Members
which
W c predominate
ed a e over
e aany questions
e which
W c may affect individual
a affec d d a CClass
a Members
Me be include,
c de,
but aaree
b not limited
ed to:
:
a. W
a. Whether
e e Defe Defendants
da accepted
acce e f
ed money from PPlaintiff
a and
ff a dCClass
a Me be
Members
in eexchange
c a e ffor a a promise e to de services;
0 provide e ce ;
b. W
b. Whether
e e Defe Defendants
da provided
ded thosee services
e ce a as ba a ed ffor;
bargained ;
0. WWhether
c. e e PPlaintiff
a ff aand
d the Class
e C a Members
Me be are
a entitled
e e ed to
0 a - a a portion
a pro-rata
off thee tuition aand fees paid
d fee a df e ce that
for services e e not provided;
a were ded;
. Whether
. W e e Defe Defendants
da e e unjustly eenriched;
were c ed;
e. W
e. Whether
e e Defe Defendants
da converted
c e ed money e f from thee PPlaintiff
a and
ff a dCClass
a
Members.
Me be .
32.
32. Typicality:
T ca : P a ff is a
Plaintiff a member of
e be 0f thee CClass.
a . PPlaintiffs
a ff claims
c a e typical
are
a of thee
ca 0f
claims
c a each CClass
off eac a Me be in that
Member a eevery
e e be off thee CClass
member a a subject
was b ec to Defe
Defendants
da
breach
b ac , unjust e
eac off ccontract, enrichment
c e and
a dcconversion.
e . P ff is e
Plaintiff
a ed to
entitled e ef under
0 relief de the a e
e same
causes
ca e 0f action aas thee
of ac other
e CClass
a Members.
Me be .
33.
33. Adequacy:
Ade a ff is a
ac : PPlaintiff adequate
an ade Class
a e C a representative
e e e a because
e beca e his interests
e e do
d0
c with the
not cconflict e interests
e e off thee CClass
a Me be
Members he
e seeks
ee to0 represent; claims
e e e ; his c a e c
are
a common
to aall members
e be off the Class,
he C a , aand he ha
d he has aa strong interest
g i e e in Vi
i vindicating his rights;
dica i g hi he ha
igh ; he has retained
e ai ed
counsel
c e c competent
e e and
a experienced
d e complex
e ie ced iin c e cclass
a action
ac i litigation
i iga i a d they
and he i e d to
intend 0
vigorously
ig ec e this
prosecute action.
hi ac i . PPlaintiff
ai iff ha 0 iinterests
has no e e which cconflict
Which ic Wiwith h e off the
h those Class.
he C a .
The CClass
a Members’
Me be interests
i e e will
i be fai
be fairly aand adequately
d ade a e protected by PPlaintiff
ec ed b ai iff a and his
d hi
counsel.
c Defendants
e . Defe da have
ha acted
e ac in aa
ed i a e ge
manner generally
e a applicable
a 0 the
icab e to he C a , making
Class, a i g relief
e ief
appropriate
a ia e with
Wi h respect
e ec to PPlaintiff
ai iff a and
d the Class
he C a Members.
Me be . The prosecution
ec i of separate
0f actions
e a a e ac i
by iindividual
b di id a CClass
a Members
Me be would
d ccreate a risk
ea e a i off iinconsistent
c i e and
a d varying adjudications.
a i g adj dica i .
34.
34. The CClass
a is properly
i e brought
b gh aand
d should
h be maintained
d be a cclass
ai ai ed aas a a action
ac i under
de
Texas
Te a RRule of Civil
e 0f Ci i PProcedure 42 beca
ced e 42 because a cclass
e a a action
ac i is
i superior
e i to0 traditional
adi i a litigation
i iga i of this
0f hi
controversy.
c e . C
Common i e off law
issues a aand fact predominate
d fac ed i a e over
e aany other
he questions
e i affec i g only
affecting
individual
i di id a members
e be of the
0f Class.
he C Class
a . The C a issues
i e ffully predominate
ed i a e over
e aany iindividual
di id a iissue
e
beca e no
because 0 inquiry
i i into iindividual
i di id a cconduct
d c iis necessary; ha iis required
ece a ; aall that e i ed iis a
a narrow
a focus
f c on
Defendants’
Defe da conduct.
c d c .
35.
35. Superiorigg:
S e i ig : I addition,
In addi i , aa cclass
a action
ac i is superior
i e i to0 the
he other
he aavailable
ai ab e
e h d ffor the
methods fair aand
he fai efficient
d ef cie adjudication
adj dica i of this
0f hi ccontroversy
e because:
beca e:
a.
a. The jjoinder of thousands
i de 0f h a d off i
individual
di id a CClass
a Members
Me be is iimpracticable,
i ac icab e,
cumbersome,
c be e, unduly
d burdensome,
b de and
e, a daa waste
a e offjjudicial
dicia a and/or
d/
litigation
i iga i resources;
e ce ;
b.
b. The iindividual
di id a c claims
ai off the Class
he C a Members
Me be a be
may be relatively
e a i e modest
de
compared
c with
a ed Wi h the expense
he e e e 0f of litigating
i iga i g the claim,
he c ai , thereby
he eb making
a i g iit
impracticable,
i ac icab e, unduly
d burdensome,
b de and
e, a de e i e-if not totally
expensive-if a impossible-to
i ib e-
justify
j if i individual
di id a acactions;
i ;
c.
c. Whe Defe
When Defendants’
da liability
iabi i ha been adj
has bee adjudicated,
dica ed, aall C
Class
a Members'
Me be ' c claims
ai can
ca
be determined
be de e i ed b by the
he CClass
a and
a administered
d ad i i e ed efefficiently
cie in aa manner
i a e fa far less
e
burdensome
b de ea and expensive
de e i e thanha ifif iit were
e eaattempted
e ed through
h gh filing, discovery,
i g, di c e ,
and
a d trial f aall i
ia of individual
di id a ca cases;
e ;
(1.
d. This cclass
Thi a action
ac i will
i promote
e orderly,
de efficient,
, ef cie , e expeditious,
edi i , aand
d
appropriate
a adjudication
ia e adj dica i and
a administration
d ad i i a i off CClass
a claims;
c ai ;
e.. PPlaintiff
a knows of no difficulty
c to0 bbe encountered
c in the management
a a of
this ac a would preclude
action that c its maintenance
a a c aas aa cclass
a action;;
ac
f. TThis cclass
. a action will aassure uniformity 0of decisions
ac c among CClass
a a Members;
M b ;
g.
. The CClass
T a is readily
a definable
ab and prosecution
a c of this ac
action aasa class
a c a action
ac
will eliminate
a the possibility
b of repetitious litigation;
a ;
h.
. Class
C a M b
Members’ interests in individually
a controlling the prosecution
c c of
0
separate
a a actions aare outweighed bby their interest in efficient
ac c resolution bby
single cclass
a action;
ac and
; a
i.. It would b
I be desirable
ab to cconcentrate
c a in this single venue the litigation
a of aall
plaintiffs
a who were harmed
a by Defendants’ cconduct.
b D a c .
36.
36. Accordingly,
Acc , this CClass
a is properly bbrought aand should bbe maintained
a a asa
a class
a c a
action
ac under TTexas
a RRule of CCivil PProcedure
c 42 bbecause
42 ca questions of law ac c
a or fact common to
Class
C a M b
Members predominate
a any questions aaffecting
over a c a members,
only individual b , aand
because
b ca a cclass
a a action
ac is superior to other aavailable
a ab methods for fairly
a and efficiently
a c
adjudicating
a ca this ccontroversy.
.
37.
37. Plaintiff
P a and
a the CClass
a can maintain
ca a a action aas aa cclass
this ac a action under TTexas
ac a
Rule of
R 0 CCivil PProcedure
c 42(b)(1), (2),
42(b)(1), (2), aand (3).
(3).
FIRST QAHSE
FIRST A SE QF QF AQTIQIS
AQTIQ S
BREA H
BREA H F TRA
TRA T
(On BBehalf
(O a 0 of PPlaintiff
a and AA l l CClass
a a Members)
M b )
38.
38. Plaintiffs incorporate
P a c a by reference
b of the aallegations
c aall 0 a made
a above here into this
ab
cause
ca of action.
ac .
39.
39. Plaintiff,
P a , on b
behalf
a of himself aand other members
b of the cclass,
a , bbrings aa c
common
law
a claim
c a for BBreach
ac 0of CContract.
ac .
40.
40. B accepting payment,
By acc a , DDefendants
a entered into ccontractual
ac a a arrangements
a with
Plaintiff
P a and
a Class
C a Members
M b to0 provide educational
ca c , experiences,
a services, c , opportunities,
, aand
related services for the SSpring SSemester 2020.
2020.
41.
41. Plaintiff and CClass
P Members’ payment of tuition and fees were intended to
M 0 cover
42.
42. Defendants received and retained the
D benefits without providing those benefits to
43.
43. As a direct and proximate result 0of DDefendants’ breach 0of contract,
A , PPlaintiff and
Class
C Members have been harmed by not receiving the educational experiences,
M , opportunities,
,
and services they paid for during the SSpring SSemester 2020.
2020.
44.
44. Defendants are
D required to0 perform under the contract and COVID-19
COVID-19 does not
12, 2020.
March 12,
provided for after SSouthern MMethodist UUniversity shut down 0on or around M 2020.
SEAHSE QF AQTIQIS
SEQQISD S2AIJSE
SEQQISD AQTIQ S
QQE ERSIQE
52! HSYERSIQ 213
(On BBehalf 0of PPlaintiff and AA l l CClass M
(O Members)
)
45.
45. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference all 0of the allegations made above here into this
P
cause of action.
.
46.
46. Plaintiff,
P , on behalf of himself and other members 0
of the CClass,
, brings a common
47.
47. Plaintiff and CClass
P Members have an ownership right to the in-person
M - educational
2020.
services based on their payment 0of tuition and fees for the SSpring SSemester 2020.
48.
48. Defendants
D intentionally interfered with PPlaintiff and the CClass MMembers’
2020.
Semester 2020.
S
49.
49. Plaintiff
P Members were damaged by DDefendants’ interference as
and the CClass M
, experience,
they paid for educational, of the SSpring SSemester 2020
, and services for the entirety 0
50.
50. Plaintiff and
P the CClass M
Members are entitled to a pro-rata
- share of the tuition and
fees they paid for but were not provided resulting from DDefendants’ interference.
.
THIRD QAQSE QF
QF AQTIQIS
AQTIQN
MM
MM LA
LA R I HME
T E RI HME T
((O Behalf 0of PPlaintiff and AA l l CClass M
On B Members in the AAlternative)
)
5 1.
]. Plaintiffs
P incorporate by reference all of the allegations made above here into this
cause of
0 action.
.
52.
52. P , on behalf of himself and other members of the class,
Plaintiff, , brings a common
53.
53. Plaintiff
P and CClass M
Members conferred financial benefits and paid substantial
tuition and fees to DDefendants for educational and related services for the SSpring SSemester 2020.
2020.
As bargained for these tuition and fee payments were intended to0 cover in-person
A - education
54.
54. Defendants
D accepted the obligation to provide such services when they accepted
payment.
.
55.
55. Defendants
D , despite D
retained these payments, Defendants’ failing to0 provide the
bargained for educational experiences and services for which the tuition and fees were collected
to0 cover.
. DDefendants should be required to return a pro-rata
- 2020
share 0of any SSpring SSemester 2020
tuition and fees,, 0of Wwhich services were not provided asbargained for,, since SSouthern MMethodist
University shut
U 12, 2020.
March 12,
down on or around M 2020.
56.
56. Under common law principles 0of unjust enrichment,
U , it is inequitable for
Defendants to
D retain the benefits conferred by PPlaintiffs and CClass M
Members’ overpayments.
.
57.
57. Plaintiff and CClass
P Members seek disgorgement of all profits resulting from such
M
overpayments and establishment of a constructive trust from which PPlaintiff and CClass M
Members
, JR DEMAND
,l [JRY DEMAND
58.
58. Plaintiff demands
P a trial by jury and has paid the jury fee..
PRA ER F R RELIEF
W
HEREFORE, PPlaintiff,, on behalf of himself and the CClass,, prays for judgment asfollows::
WHEREFORE,
(a)
( ) Declaring this
D action to0 be a proper class action and certifying
Plaintiff as the
P representative 0of the CClass under TTexas RRule of CCivil
42;
Procedure 42;
P
(b)
( ) Awarding monetary damages as set forth above;
A ;
(0)
( ) Awarding punitive damages;
A ;
(d)
( ) Awarding PPlaintiff and CClass M
A Members their costs and expenses incurred in this
action,
, and also awarding reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in connection
(e)
( ) Granting all other reliefto which PPlaintiff and the CClass M
G Members may be
entitled..
RE E TF R
R DI
DI L RE
. P.
Civ.
C 194.2(a)-(l)
P. 194.2( ) (1) and in T
Tex. R. CCiv.
. R. P. 190.2(
. P. 190.2(b)(6).
)(6).
10
10
Respectfully submitted,
,
H E ED
T HE A RDD S LA
E D WA LAWG GROUP
HE HAEH
THE HAEHNEL EL B UILDI
I L D I NG
G
1101 E.
1101 11TH
E. 11 EE
H STREET
I , TX 78702
AUSTIN,
A
Tel.
. 512-623-7727
Fax.
F 512-623-7729
. 512-623-7729
By
B /s/ JJeff EEdwards
/ /
JEFF ED A D
EDWARDS
State BBar No.
0. 24014406
jeff@edwards-law.com
@ 1 .
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M I C H A E L SINGLEY
Bar No.
State B 0. 00794642
mike@edwards‐law.com
@ .
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DAVID JAMES
State BBar No. 24092572
0. 24092572
david@edwards-law.com
@ 1 .
A D
AND
T HE L E LA
H E SULTZER L AW GGROUP, , P.C.
.C.
Jason P.. Sultzer,
J , Esq.*
E .*
Jeremy FFrancis,
J Esq.*
, E .*
sultzerj@@thesultzerlawgr0up.com.
francisj @@thesultzerlawgroup.com
.
85 CCivic CCenter Plaza,
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12601
Telephone: (854) 705-9460
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LEEDS B
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Michael A. , EEsq.*
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B Cohen,
. C Esq.*
, E .*
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, NY 115 14
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