Federal judge dismisses class action against firm client in case involving Mount Ida College closure
U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled in favor of Mount Ida College President Barry Brown, the College’s Board of Trustees and certain administrators, dismissing a class action complaint filed by several former Mount Ida College students arising from the college’s closure in 2018.
Howard M. Cooper and Elizabeth E. Olien represented Mr. Brown in persuading the judge to dismiss the complaint in its entirety. The ruling affirms that President Brown, the Board of Trustees and the College’s administrators acted in the best interests of Mount Ida’s students and employees throughout the closure process.
“President Brown is gratified with Judge Stearns’ decision, which follows Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s decision not to bring any legal action against anyone based upon the closing the College,” said Mr. Cooper. “These decisions confirm that the closure of Mount Ida was done in an ethical and legally appropriate manner, even though it was an extremely difficult event for the entire Mount Ida community. Sometimes the best and good faith efforts of people are just not enough.”
Mr. Cooper noted that during Mr. Brown's tenure as president, the college achieved a dramatic rise in national rankings, while retaining its dedication to a diverse, first generation student body.
According to Education Dive, more than 170 colleges have closed, merged, or consolidated throughout the United States since 2016.
For over three decades, Mr. Cooper has successfully handled on behalf of clients a wide array of litigation cases, often involving high-profile issues. Ms. Olien concentrates her practice on counseling individual and corporate clients in complex business disputes, general commercial litigation, employment law, and investigations.