This page provides the answers to class members’ most frequently asked questions.
The information provided is in summary form and is not intended as a complete explanation of your rights. For full and complete information, you are directed to review carefully the Court-Authorized Notice.
The class action being settled is captioned Cantave v. Saint Joseph’s University, Civil Action No. 2:23-cv-03181 (E.D. Pa.). This case is a putative class action, meaning that the Settlement Class Representative—Jaulie Cantave—brought this action as an individual acting on behalf of a putative class of all undergraduate students who paid tuition for the Spring 2020 semester at SJU. The Settlement Class Representative alleged claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. With the help of a mediator, the Parties came to the proposed Settlement.
If you were enrolled as an undergraduate student at SJU after March 19, 2020; were assessed tuition for the Spring 2020 semester; and were enrolled for the Spring 2020 semester in at least one class that was meeting in person and on campus at the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester, then you potentially qualify as a Settlement Class Member.
The Court must decide that the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate before it will approve the proposed Settlement. At this time, the Court has already reviewed and decided to grant preliminary approval of the proposed Settlement, after which notice was disseminated to Potential Settlement Class Members. The Court will make a final decision regarding the proposed Settlement at a Final Approval Hearing, which is currently scheduled for October 15, 2024.
If you do nothing, and the proposed Settlement is approved by the Court, you will be eligible to participate in the proposed Settlement and to receive the Settlement Benefit allocated to you according to the terms of the proposed Settlement.
If you opt out of the proposed Settlement, you will preserve any claims you may have against SJU related to SJU’s transition to remote learning in the Spring 2020 semester. However, you will not be entitled to object to the settlement or receive a payment from this proposed Settlement—assuming that the proposed Settlement is approved by the Court.
To opt out of the proposed Settlement, you must send a written request to the Settlement Administrator at: SJU Settlement P.O. Box 2003 Chanhassen, MN 55317-2003, which must:
A request to opt out of the proposed Settlement that does not meet the above requirements, or that is sent to an address other than that of the Settlement Administrator, will be invalid and the person sending the defective request will remain in the Settlement Class and, if the proposed Settlement is approved by the Court, will receive a payment, and will be bound by the proposed Settlement.
A request to opt out of the proposed Settlement must be done on an individual basis. A Potential Settlement Class Member cannot purport to opt others out of the proposed Settlement on a class or representative basis.
The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on October 15, 2024, at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If objections have been properly submitted, the Court will consider them. The Court may also decide how much to award Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs and the amount of the award to the Settlement Class Representative. The hearing will be public. The hearing may be virtual, in which case the instructions for viewing the hearing and participating will be posted on the Settlement Website.
The date and time of the Final Approval Hearing may change without further notice. Please check the Settlement Website for updates.