A United States Federal judge said on Tuesday that the bid of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for pretrial was rejected. The lawsuit focuses on the Trump University students that felt they were defrauded by the real estate school into signing up for real-estate seminars.
Trump University was an American for-profit school that ran a real estate training program from 2005 until 2010. The company offered courses in real estate, asset management, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. However, after several lawsuits within that time, the company became defunct.
According to Reuters, United States District Judge Gonzalo Curiel said that there was a "genuine issue of material fact" as to whether Trump knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud the students.
His written ruling cited extensive evidence that Trump himself did not meet, interviewed or selected Trump U instructors to handle the real estate school. Trump alleges that he himself handpicked them.
The business started with Michael Sexton. Sexton created a business plan for a real estate training program and presented it to Trump. Initially, he wanted to use Trump's name as a brand. Instead, Trump decided he wanted to be principal owner.
In 2010, Trump University closed its doors. They have stopped producing newspaper advertising, free presentations, and three-day seminars, and more. In total, there are three lawsuits filed against Trump University. All three range from false claims to racketeering.
Trump's lawyers argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because Trump's personal involvement in the school was loose. Which means that although he is involved in the curriculum and concept, they are saying that the mogul relied on others to manage Trump U.
Trump's lawyers further explained that the references in marketing materials that says "secrets," "hand-picked" instructors or "university" were sales "puffery" and there was no evidence Trump intended to defraud students.
Still, the class action lawsuit continues and even comedian and show host Seth Meyers has something to say about it.
