If you were assessed tuition and/or fees to attend at least one in-person course(s) during the Spring 2020 semester at Carnegie Mellon University (“CMU”) but had your course(s) moved to remote learning, you are part of the proposed settlement class (a “Settlement Class Member”) affected by this lawsuit.
If you are a Settlement Class Member, you do not have to do anything to participate in and receive the benefits of the proposed Settlement. You should, however, notify the Settlement Administrator if you have a new permanent mailing address or you wish to be paid by Venmo or PayPal.
The class action being settled is captioned Pfingsten, et al. v. Carnegie Mellon University, Civil Action No. 2:20-cv-00716 (W.D. Pa.). This case is a putative class action, meaning that the Settlement Class Representatives—Abigaile Pfingsten and Anokhy Desai—brought this action as individuals acting on behalf of a putative class of all people who paid tuition and/or fees for the Spring 2020 semester at CMU. The Settlement Class Representatives alleged claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. With the help of a mediator, the Parties came to the proposed Settlement.
If you were assessed tuition and/or fees to attend at least one in-person course(s) during the Spring 2020 semester at CMU but had your course(s) moved to remote learning, then you qualify as a Settlement Class Member.
Your payment will be sent automatically by first class U.S. Mail to your last known permanent mailing address on file with CMU. Class Members will also have the option to click the Election Form tab on this website to choose one of the following selections: (a) provide an updated address for sending a check; or (b) elect to receive the Settlement Benefit by Venmo or PayPal instead of a paper check. This action must be taken no later than forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date, as defined in the proposed Settlement. That date will also be posted on the Settlement Website when it is known, but it will be some time after the Final Approval Hearing, currently scheduled for June 30, 2025.
If you do not want to participate in this proposed Settlement— meaning you do not want to receive the Settlement Benefit, and you do not want to be bound by any judgment entered in this case—you may exclude yourself by mailing a signed opt-out request to the Settlement Administrator, which must be postmarked no later than May 19, 2025. If you instead want to object to this proposed Settlement because you think it is not fair, adequate, or reasonable, you may submit an objection, which also must be postmarked no later than May 19, 2025.
Please follow the detailed instructions outlined in the Long Form Notice and the Settlement Agreement to properly opt-out from, or object to, the proposed Settlement.
The Court has preliminarily approved the proposed Settlement, but the distribution of payments will occur only if the Court grants final approval of the proposed Settlement. The Final Approval Hearing in this case is scheduled for JUNE 30, 2025. At that hearing, the Court will consider whether to grant final approval of the proposed Settlement, and whether to approve payment from the Settlement Fund of: (1) awards to the Settlement Class Representative for their service in this litigation; and (2) Class Counsel’s requested attorneys’ fees, which will not exceed thirty-three and one-third percent of the Settlement Fund and will be posted on the Settlement Website after May 5, 2025, and reimbursement for litigation costs.
To review the Long Form Notice, review other important documents, including the Settlement Agreement, and obtain more information about the proposed Settlement please click on the appropriate tabs at the top of this page.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR CMU CONCERNING THIS NOTICE OR THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT.