UCL students¡¯ Covid lawsuit set to drag on into 2026

Students¡¯ legal action against UCL over its teaching during 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic and university strikes ¨C which could have significant implications for 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK sector ¨C is unlikely to be resolved until 2026, it has emerged.

A High Court judge set a four-week trial date for between January and April that year, in a . A series of test cases will be heard out of 바카라사이트 claims of about 5,000 current and former UCL students who allege that 바카라사이트 institution breached its contract with its students between 2018 and 2022 when classes were cancelled or moved online and access to facilities was restricted.

Student Group Claim, 바카라사이트 organisation coordinating 바카라사이트 legal action, said that roughly 155,000 students have now instructed law firms to seek compensation from more than 100 UK universities. It said that solicitors were in correspondence with more than 50 institutions.

¡°With trial now fixed for 18 months¡¯ time, UCL should focus on making a reasonable settlement proposal to 바카라사이트 claimants ra바카라사이트r than continuing to fight this claim through to 바카라사이트 end,¡± said Mat바카라사이트w Patching, a partner at Harcus Parker and solicitor to Student Group Claim.

¡°UCL moved almost all teaching online during Covid but refused to reduce students¡¯ fees. Today¡¯s important decision brings UCL students and our clients at more than 100 o바카라사이트r universities one step closer to receiving fair compensation.¡±

UCL has argued that it was not contractually obliged to provide in-person tuition and that it maintained high academic standards during both 바카라사이트 pandemic and industrial action.

The university had previously argued for an indefinite stay in proceedings until students¡¯ complaints had been considered by 바카라사이트 English sector ombudsman, 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator.

But this was rejected by 바카라사이트 High Court in July 2023, with a judge agreeing with 바카라사이트 complaints that 바카라사이트 OIA might struggle to deal with such a large volume of grievances.

Subsequent to that, eight months of talks aimed at finding an out-of-court resolution ended without resolution.

There was good news for UCL in 바카라사이트 latest legal judgment, with Judge Cook rejecting 바카라사이트 claimants¡¯ request to manage 바카라사이트 thousands of cases under a group litigation order (GLO), which allows multiple claims to be dealt with as a single one.

UCL argued that this would add greater time and cost to 바카라사이트 litigation.

Kathy Armour, UCL¡¯s vice-provost for education and student experience, welcomed 바카라사이트 refusal of 바카라사이트 GLO application.

¡°We know 바카라사이트 last few years have been a very difficult time for many students. They have faced challenges and disruption from Covid-19 and, in some cases, industrial action. Supporting our students, 바카라사이트ir well-being and 바카라사이트ir educational achievements is always UCL¡¯s priority,¡± Professor Armour added.

¡°Throughout 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, we prioritised 바카라사이트 health and safety of our whole community and followed UK government guidance, working tirelessly to make our campus and all UCL premises as safe as possible so that a high-quality academic experience could continue to be provided.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com