Golden Gate University’s alumni association and four current law students at Golden Gate University School of Law sued the university and its president on Feb. 14 in California state court, seeking to stop the planned closure of its J.D. program.
Golden Gate University officials announced in late November that the university will discontinue the J.D. program in May 2024 in response to financial shortfalls resulting from enrollment declines, a sluggish employment market and low bar exam pass rates. The 123-year-old school would continue to offer non-J.D. law-related graduate and undergraduate degrees, they said.
The plaintiffs’ breach of contract lawsuit filed in San Francisco, alleges students were unaware of the law school’s bleak finances and that administrators have not provided adequate transfer options for students left in the lurch.
Golden Gate University issued a statement on Feb. 16 calling the lawsuit “frivolous” and said officials were looking forward to its “prompt dismissal.”
The lawsuit also claims that Golden Gate University President David Fike mismanaged the law school by taking out loans against the law school campus, launching unproven new degree programs and eliminating tuition for students beginning in 2022 in a bid to make the school more competitive.
The complaint said it was “simply astonishing” that the school offered free tuition and then ran out of money before those students completed their degree.
“The fact that this occurred speaks to the serious leadership issues at the university,” said the complaint, filed by San Francisco attorney Ryan Griffith, a GGU Law alumni.
The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the J.D. program from shutting down in addition to damages. The American Bar Association has yet to sign off on Golden Gate’s required closure plan, the complaint said.
