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Trump University lawsuit settled for $25 million

<p>Donald Trump has settled lawsuits against Trump University for <a href="http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/statement-ag-schneiderman-25-million-settlement-agreement-reached-trump-university" target="_blank">$25 million</a>. </p><p>The New York attorney general's office announced Friday the settlement will give more than 6,000 former students restitution, and Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the state of New York. </p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-university-documents-reveal-a-focus-on-selling-not-teaching/">Trump University Documents Reveal A Focus On Selling, Not Teaching</a></b></p><p><a href="http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-sues-donald-trump-trump-university-michael-sexton-defrauding-consumers" target="_blank">The New York lawsuit</a> filed in 2013 alleged Trump University engaged in "fraudulent, illegal and deceptive" behavior and operated as an unlicensed educational institute. </p><p>According to the attorney general's office, the defendants had been fighting the lawsuit since it was filed, and the settlement comes as a "stunning reversal." </p><p>This settlement also covers two other Trump University lawsuits based in California. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-me-trump-university-20161118-story.html" target="_blank">According to the Los Angeles Times</a>, the deal does not require Trump to admit any wrongdoing. </p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/tsa-will-allow-these-thanksgiving-foods-on-planes/">So You Want To Bring A Turkey On An Airplane ...</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/cincinnati-zoo-s-gorilla-barrier-didn-t-meet-standards/">Zoo's Gorilla Barrier Didn't Meet Standards When Harambe Died</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/dr-phil-accused-of-exploiting-shelley-duvall-s-illness/">Dr. Phil Accused Of Exploiting 'The Shining' Star's Mental Illness</a></li></ul>
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President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to a $25 million settlement to resolve three lawsuits over Trump University, his former school for real estate investors.

The deal announced Friday by New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman would settle a lawsuit he filed three years ago, plus two class-action lawsuits in California filed on behalf of former Trump University students.

The suits allege that Trump University failed to deliver on its promise to teach success in real estate through programs that cost up to $35,000. They say the program misled students by calling itself a university when it wasn't an accredited school and by saying that Trump "hand-picked" instructors.

Messages left with several of Trump's attorneys and a spokeswoman were not returned Friday.

 

 

Trump has strongly denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he wouldn't settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency.

"I could have settled this case numerous times, but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler," Trump said at the time.

The deal does not require Trump to acknowledge wrongdoing.

Schneiderman said the $25 million to be paid by Trump or one of his business entities includes restitution for victims and $1 million in penalties to the state.

"Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes," Schneiderman said in a statement. He called the settlement "a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university."

A federal judge in California had been set Friday to consider arguments on Trump's latest request to delay a trial until after Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Trump's attorneys said in a court filing last week that preparations for the White House were "critical and all-consuming." Six months ago, when they unsuccessfully sought a delay until after Inauguration Day, lead attorney Daniel Petrocelli said the period between the election and swearing-in is extremely hectic for a president-elect but that it was preferable to a trial during the campaign.

"The task is momentous, exceedingly complex, and requires careful coordination involving the respective staffs and teams of both President (Barack) Obama and President-Elect Trump," Trump's attorneys wrote. "In fewer than three months, the President-Elect must be prepared to manage 15 executive departments, more than 100 federal agencies, 2 million civilian employees, and a budget of almost $4 trillion."

Trump's attorneys also raised the prospect of having the president-elect testify by video recording before the trial begins in the class-action lawsuit on Nov. 28.