NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Neubert v. Lehigh University, Civil Action No. 5:24-cv-831 (E.D. Pa.)
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
If you were a student enrolled at Lehigh University (“Lehigh” or “University”) after March 12, 2020, and satisfied your payment obligation of tuition and/or mandatory fees by Lehigh for the Spring 2020 semester, you may be eligible to receive a payment as part of a proposed settlement.
If you are a Settlement Class Member, you do not have to do anything to participate in and receive the benefits of the proposed Settlement.
In this Action, Plaintiff alleged Lehigh breached a contract when it transitioned to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plaintiff also alleged that Lehigh’s shift to remote learning gave rise to a claim of unjust enrichment. Plaintiff sought a refund of a portion of the tuition and mandatory fees for the Spring 2020 semester. Lehigh denies all allegations of wrongdoing, and there has been no finding of liability in any court. However, considering the interest of both Lehigh and its students in prompt resolution of the matter, Lehigh and Plaintiff have agreed that Lehigh will pay $1,750,000 into a Settlement Fund to resolve the Action.
If you were a student enrolled at Lehigh after March 12, 2020; satisfied your payment obligation of tuition and/or mandatory fees for the Spring 2020 semester; and were enrolled for the Spring 2020 semester in at least one class that was meeting in person and on campus at the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester; then you may be part of the proposed settlement class (a “Settlement Class Member”). If you are a Settlement Class Member, you do not have to do anything to participate in and receive the benefits of the proposed Settlement.
Your payment will be sent automatically by first class U.S. Mail to your last known mailing address on file with the University Registrar. Class Members will also have the option to click the Election Form tab on this website to choose one of the following selections: (a) provide an updated address for sending a check; or (b) elect to receive the Settlement Benefit by Venmo or PayPal instead of a paper check. This action must be taken no later than forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date, as defined in the proposed Settlement. That date will also be posted on the Settlement Website when it is known, but it will be some time after the Final Approval Hearing, currently scheduled for May 20, 2025.
If you do not want to participate in this proposed Settlement— meaning you do not want to receive the Settlement Benefit, and you do not want to be bound by any judgment entered in this case—you may exclude yourself by mailing a signed opt-out request to the Settlement Administrator, which must be postmarked no later than April 14, 2025. Be aware that the statute of limitations may impact your ability to file a claim. If you instead want to object to this proposed Settlement because you think it is not fair, adequate, or reasonable, you may submit an objection, which also must be postmarked no later than April 14, 2025.
Please follow the detailed instructions outlined in the Long Form Notice and the Settlement Agreement to properly opt-out from, or object to, the proposed Settlement.
The Court has preliminarily approved the proposed Settlement, but the distribution of payments will occur only if the Court grants final approval of the proposed Settlement. The Final Approval Hearing in this case is currently scheduled for May 20, 2025. At that hearing, the Court will consider whether to grant final approval of the proposed Settlement, and whether to approve payment from the Settlement Fund of: (1) an award to the Settlement Class Representative for his service in this litigation; and (2) Class Counsel’s requested attorneys’ fees, which will not exceed thirty-three and one-third percent of the Settlement Fund and will be posted on the Settlement Website after March 31, 2025, and reimbursement for litigation costs.
To review the Long Form Notice, review other important documents, including the Settlement Agreement, and obtain more information about the proposed Settlement please click on the appropriate tabs at the top of this page.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR LEHIGH CONCERNING THIS NOTICE OR THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT