U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel issued a final order on April 10, 2018 concluding the Trump University litigation and authorizing distribution of the $25 million settlement to approximately 3,730 victims who would receive at least 90 percent of their money back. The finalization came more than a …
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approved the $25 million Trump University settlement on March 31, 2017, clearing the way for approximately 3,730 victims to receive refunds of at least 90 percent of the money they spent on Trump University courses. The approval came four months after Trump agreed …
Donald Trump agreed on November 18, 2016 to pay $25 million to settle all three Trump University fraud lawsuits—two class actions and the New York Attorney General civil suit—just 10 days after winning the presidential election and less than two weeks before the San Diego class action was scheduled …
Donald TrumpGonzalo CurielEric SchneidermanTrump UniversityFraudSettlementConsumer ProtectionAccountability
Donald Trump launched racist attacks against U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was presiding over the Trump University fraud lawsuits, falsely claiming the judge’s Mexican heritage created bias against him. At a San Diego rally in late May and in subsequent media interviews, Trump …
Donald TrumpGonzalo CurielPaul RyanTrump UniversityRacismJudicial IndependenceWitness IntimidationPaul Ryan+1 more
Court documents and victim testimony released in June 2016 revealed the devastating human cost of Trump University’s fraudulent scheme, with students testifying they lost retirement savings, disability income, and home equity after being pressured into purchasing courses costing up to $35,000. …
Donald TrumpRonald SchnackenbergGeorge HanusTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionVictim TestimonyElder Abuse
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel ordered the unsealing of over 400 pages of Trump University documents on May 31, 2016, revealing internal sales “playbooks” that detailed aggressive, predatory tactics designed to extract maximum money from vulnerable consumers. The documents exposed …
Gonzalo CurielDonald TrumpRonald SchnackenbergTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionCourt DocumentsSales Tactics+1 more
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a $40 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative (formerly Trump University LLC), and Michael Sexton on August 24, 2013, alleging “persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct.” Schneiderman …
Eric SchneidermanDonald TrumpMichael SextonTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionNew York Attorney GeneralEric Schneiderman+1 more
The Donald J. Trump Foundation illegally paid a $25,000 settlement related to Trump University litigation using tax-exempt charitable funds rather than Trump’s personal or business accounts. This payment represented another instance of Trump using his charitable foundation as a personal …
Donald TrumpTrump FoundationFlorida Attorney General Pam BondiTrump FoundationCharity FraudSelf-DealingTrump UniversityTax Violations
In June 2010, Trump University changed its name to “The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative” following sustained pressure from the New York State Education Department, which had repeatedly warned since 2005 that the organization was illegally using the term “university” without …
Donald TrumpMichael SextonJoseph FreyTrump UniversityFraudEducation FraudNew YorkRegulatory Evasion
The Better Business Bureau issued Trump University a D- rating in 2010, the lowest rating the enterprise received during its active operations. The rating resulted from multiple consumer complaints the BBB received documenting deceptive practices, high-pressure sales tactics, and unfulfilled …
Donald TrumpMichael SextonTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionBetter Business BureauEducation Fraud
Donald Trump formally launched “Trump University” on May 23, 2005, a real estate training program that operated without proper academic licensing or accreditation. The enterprise, incorporated in 2004 with Trump owning 93% of the company, conducted three- and five-day seminars marketed …
Donald TrumpMichael SextonTrump UniversityFraudConsumer ProtectionEducation FraudBusiness Ethics