Judge Halts Multi-Million Dollar University of California Fee Increase

     The order, issued by Judge James L. Warren, protects approximately 3,000 students enrolled in University of California’s professional schools from large, unexpected fee increases. Those students are obtaining degrees in law, medicine, business, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry, and theater/film/television.

     At the time the students enrolled, the University told them that their “professional degree fee” – a substantial portion of their tuition – would remain constant for the term of their enrollment. Despite that promise, the University raised that fee in the spring and summer of 2003, and sought to raise the fee again this summer for the upcoming school year. The increases for the 2004-2005 academic year, halted by the judge’s order, were to be $4,500 for medical students, $5,000 for law students, over $6,000 for dental students, and from $4,500 to over $6,000 for business students.

     The students had offered evidence that these increases would cause hardship, including preventing them from applying for and accepting public interest jobs, judicial clerkships, and unpaid internships.

     The court found that the hardships the students would suffer as a result of the fee increases outweighed the hardship to the University from not receiving the funds. It also found that the students are likely to prevail on the merits of their breach of contract claim against the University.

     The order grows out of a larger case, filed a year ago, that challenges all increases in professional degree fees to UC students who enrolled prior to 2003 and also challenges last-minute fee increases that the University imposed in 2003 on many students after they had already registered for the spring semester or for summer sessions. That case is scheduled to be heard by the court this fall.

For further information, contact Plaintiffs’ counsel: