CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tuesday was the deadline for Charlotte School of Law to file an appeal against the Department of Education's decision to deny federal loans for its students.
The school is facing a growing legal battle as the school looks for ways to assist students concerned about an uncertain future.
Attorney Gary Jackson is part of a team with the law offices of James Scott Farrin that is representing 45 Charlotte School of Law students who are outraged they invested thousands in their education, not knowing CSL was falling out of compliance with the American Bar Association.
"They cannot believe this institution has duped them," Jackson said. He added that the students are holding off on filing a lawsuit, hoping the school will address concerns and even possibly waive tuition.
"We hope the administration at this school, faculty at this school, can change course, straighten out its act," Jackson said.
We talked to an attorney representing third-year students who already filed an additional class-action suit. In addition to CSL, this one names the federal government, asking it to discharge the student's loans.
"If you are tricked into taking out a loan that does you no good, the idea is it is unfair to require you to take on that debt, and have to pay it back when you've gotten no value from it," Majestro said by phone.
CSL wouldn’t comment on pending lawsuits.
Eyewitness News learned that in 2015, Majestro's team won an $11 million settlement for former students of Mountain State University in West Virginia. They argued the school failed to provide an adequate education before it closed.
Majestro thinks it's telling that the Department of Education pulled funding from CSL, even though the school is still accredited. But for some students, the fact that the school still has its accreditation is reason to hope things can turn around.
"We would really like the DOE to come in and at least reinstate loans for this semester," Jackson said.
There is no word on when the DOE will respond.