IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
A jury has ruled that California State University acted properly when it raised fees on students twice within a few months.
The Superior Court trial in San Francisco concerned actions in 2009 by the Cal State Board of Trustees, when it approved a 10 percent tuition hike in May and a 20 percent hike two months later, according to published reports.
Those fee increases, which happened during budget cuts caused by the recession, prompted students to sue the Cal State system for breach of contract. They argued that they were already paying sufficient fees.
Four years ago, the case was given class-action status on behalf of the 19 campuses and nearly 200,000 students in the Cal State system.
In 2014, a judge ruled that the board acted in good faith when it raised tuition, and a jury Thursday upheld that decision with a 9-3 vote, according to reports.
“[The] verdict affirms the California State University’s commitment to student success and the fiscal stability of the university for future generations of Californians,” said Framroze Virjee, Cal State’s executive vice chancellor and general counsel, in a statement.
