HGD Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Virginia College

December 5, 2018

Birmingham, Alabama

Until December 5, 2018, VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America, both Alabama headquartered companies, operated and ran one of the largest for-profit colleges in the United States including one located in Jefferson County, Alabama at 488 Palisades Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35209.  On the evening of December 4, 2018, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools suspended VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America’s accreditation making all degrees previously earned valueless and any future degrees worthless also.  As a result of the lack of accreditation, VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America could no longer seek federal funding thus effectively shutting down their businesses.  As a result of the lack of accreditation, course work performed by Plaintiff Robinson and the Class are not recognized by other higher education providers which will require them to repeat and repay tuition for the same coursework at another institution in order to obtain degrees.

As of this morning, December 5, 2018, VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America closed all campuses nationwide leaving students and employees helpless.  Until December 5, 2018, Education Corporation of America operated more than 75 campuses and had at least 20,000 students enrolled in courses including cosmetology, culinary arts, massage therapy, medical assistant, and dental assistant.  On December 5, 2018, VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America abruptly closed their doors without warning current or former students and falsely blaming the Department of Education for the closures.  Former students who graduated with degrees now have those degrees tainted and devalued.

On December 5, 2018, Taylor Bartlett, Mark Ekonen, and W. Lewis Garrison of Heninger Garrison Davis filed a lawsuit on behalf of a former student who obtained three degrees from Virginia College.  Our plaintiff alleges that current students who have paid tuition to VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America have no chance of obtaining any degrees from VIRGINIA COLLEGE or Education Corporation of America and thus their tuition payments paid to date provided them no benefit.  He also alleges that VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America are liable to former students for some of the tuition paid while VIRGINIA COLLEGE and Education Corporation of America are liable to current students who have not yet obtained the degree they are seeking for their entire tuition payments.

The lawyers of Heninger Garrison Davis are looking for additional clients in any state who may have been impacted by Virginia College, Brightwood Career Institute, Ecotech Institute, and Golf Academy of America closures.  We are here to help and will speak with you free of charge.  We never get paid unless we recover something for you and it will never come out of your pocket.  Call us at 1-800-241-9779 or email us at intake@hgdlawfirm.com.

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