Students sue UK university over COVID-19 disruptions

[KARAH RUCKER]

STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF A LONDON COLLEGE ARE HEADED TO COURT – OVER THE QUALITY OF TEACHING DURING STRIKES AND COVID LOCKDOWNS.

AROUND FIVE THOUSAND CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS ARE SUING UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON AFTER CLASSES WERE MOVED ONLINE OR CANCELED ALTOGETHER.

THEIR LAWYERS ARE CALLING THE SCHOOL TO MAKE QUOTE “SENSIBLE SETTLEMENT PROPOSALS” TO AVOID GOING TO TRIAL. 

THE CASES AGAINST U-C-L WILL BE THE FIRST TO GO TO COURT – BUT CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS OF OTHER UNIVERSITIES ARE SEEKING COMPENSATION, AS WELL. 

LAWYERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE SET UP A WEBSITE TO OFFER REPRESENTATION TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. 

THEY SAY MORE THAN 155-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP. 

THE STUDENTS SEEKING COMPENSATION SAY CANCELED AND ONLINE TEACHING RESTRICTED THEIR ACCESS TO FACILITIES AND DAMAGED THE QUALITY OF LEARNING – BREACHING THE UNIVERSITY’S CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE IN-PERSON TEACHING AND ACCESS TO FACILITIES. 

U-C-L DENIES THE CLAIMS – SAYING IT WAS UNDER NO SUCH OBLIGATION. 

LAST MONTH, THE LAW FIRMS REPRESENTING THE STUDENTS ARGUED FOR A GROUP LITIGATION ORDER — WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ALL THE CLAIMS AGAINST U-C-L TO BE PROCESSED AS ONE SINGLE CLAIM… BUT THE REQUEST WAS DISMISSED BY A COURT. 

INSTEAD – A FEW STUDENTS REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF SCENARIOS WILL BE SELECTED AS SO-CALLED “TEST CASES” FOR THE TRIAL. 

THEIR JUDGEMENTS WILL HELP DETERMINE HOW OTHER CASES ARE SETTLED MOVING FORWARD. 

THEY’RE SET TO GO TO COURT AT THE START OF 20-26.