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Lawsuit against IU, Purdue for breach of contract during COVID-19 online learning proceeds

(WFIU File Photo)

Lawsuits against Indiana University and Purdue University for breach of contract when the universities switched to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic can proceed to trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals said in a decision Thursday.

The state appellate court ruled Thursday that the student plaintiffs sufficiently state claims that the universities failed to offer an in-person learning experience, breaching their contract to students.

In March 2020, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed executive orders declaring a public health emergency and establishing the stay-at-home order. IU and Purdue moved in-person classes online for the remainder of that spring semester, closed campus facilities and recommended students return to their homes.

The cases brought against IU and Purdue allege that the plaintiffs bargained for in-person instruction, services, activities, housing and meals in exchange for tuition and student fees. 

The plaintiffs argue that the universities were unjustly enriched by retaining those funds when instruction moved online and campus facilities were closed. As damages, the plaintiffs requested prorated refunds of tuition, student fees and room and board fees. 

IU filed a motion for judgment, which was denied in full and Purdue filed motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, which were largely denied.

The universities argued that Holcomb's executive orders made it legally impossible for them to fulfill any bargain for in-person instruction, according to the decision.

Judge Terry Crone, who authored the decision, said this argument was for the universities to offer at trial.

The court also declined to address the enforceability of Public Law 166-2021. Section 13 of the law, now codified at Indiana Code Section 34-12-5-7, states, “[a] claimant may not bring, and a court may not certify, a class action lawsuit against a covered entity [i.e., the Universities] for loss or damages arising from COVID-19 in a contract, implied contract, quasi-contract, or unjust enrichment claim.”

Holcomb signed Public Law 166-2021, which was made retroactive to March 1, 2021.

Judge Crone wrote, “Here, the issues presented by the trial court’s orders are whether the Plaintiffs’ complaints sufficiently state claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, not whether Public Law 166-2021 precludes the Plaintiffs from litigating their claims on a class basis.”

Additionally, Crone said the same issue was raised before a trial court in a similar case involving Ball State University, where the court ruled in Ball State’s favor in February. That ruling is being appealed.

The universities in this case may raise the issue before their respective trial courts, the appelate court decision stated.

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