Real Journalism by Leeds Hacks

Lawsuit Could Leave Students £5000 Richer: Universities ‘Breached Contracts’

A University of Leeds sign post for Willow Terrace Road Entrance
Willow terrace Roadsign
Student's across the country could face financial compensation if a lawsuit filed against their universities succeeds in court. The lawsuit aims to expose how universities broke contracts in relation to what was promised to students pre-lockdown.

Universities across the UK are facing class action lawsuits over the disruption students experienced as a result of the lockdown. The lawsuit, filed by solicitors on behalf of students as a conditional fee service, aims to compensate students with up to £5000. 

Students claim that their universities disregarded previously agreed educational commitments during the coronavirus lockdown, leaving students paying for a service they didn’t even get. Solicitors from the Asserson and Harcus Parker law firms claim that universities owed it to students to provide services such as “in person tuition… and physical access to campus facilities like libraries, study spaces and labs” but some universities have failed to do so.

A conditional fee class action lawsuit means that if the lawsuit is unsuccessful and no compensation is awarded, lawyer fees are waived, essentially giving students a free chance at money (based on whether or not they faced disruption at university.) The lawsuit also extends to cover strike disruption, a further hit to universities as 2022 has seen at least 42 days of higher education based strikes with more planned for the next few months.

UCU, the national union for higher education facilities, has announced its largest wave of strikes yet, supposedly occurring sometime before Christmas. However, dates have yet to be announced and the recent NHS strike announcement may force the union to postpone the strikes to better coordinate national strike action.

In fact, in the recent union wide vote on possible strike action, the University and College Union saw its biggest amount of support ever, with around 81.1% of union members voting for strike action. This is the first time any UK based education union has passed the 50% legal threshold for turnouts, evidencing the desire for a pay increase and better working conditions.

Asserson and Harcus Parker solicitors have also claimed that the 18 universities targeted by the lawsuit collectively earned more than £1 billion in the lockdown period, and were given a further £54 million in government grants.

To claim financial compensation, students should apply on the Student Group Claim website, but be aware that only 18 universities have been selected by solicitors as liable to be sued, including the University of Leeds, but not including Leeds Beckett University.

Students can apply for the financial claim at studentgroupclaim.co.uk.

Students crossing a road next to Leeds Beckett Student Union.
You haven't added a credit to your images yet! During the lockdown, many students payed for services and facilities they couldn’t access, despite universities promising they could.
The exterior of the University and Colleges Union building in Leeds.
You haven't added a credit to your images yet! The University and Colleges Union have strike action planned in the next few months, further adding to the pressure on Universities.
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