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Class-Action Lawsuit Against Trump University Moves Forward, Judge Gonzalo Curiel Says ‘Open The Books’ Despite Protests From Donald Trump

By Phyllis Asinyanbi
Published on: 07:00 PST, May 29, 2016

A class-action lawsuit was filed in 2013 by the state of New York against the now defunct Trump University. Another suit has been filed in San Diego, California, under U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s jurisdiction. Donald Trump’s response is that Curiel is a hostile judge who is angry because of the presumptive GOP nominee’s stance on undocumented Mexicans.

Trump questioned whether Curiel is biased and later referenced the judge’s perceived nationality, per CNN.

“The judge, who happens to be, we believe, Mexican, which is great. I think that’s fine.”

Curiel was born in Indiana, and his parents emigrated from Mexico, which means Curiel is an American of Latino descent. Mexico is a country in Latin America — not an ethnicity.

The “playbooks,” which detail the inside workings of the school, now have to be opened by Thursday, per an order by Curiel. Initially, a request was made by the Washington Post, on Saturday.

Lawyers in the Trump University case argued that the information inside the books should not be revealed as trade secrets are involved. In a Friday ruling, Curiel didn’t agree and said the case has now become one of public interest, added CNN.

“[Trump] became the front-runner in the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race, and has placed the integrity of these court proceedings at issue.”

Donald Trump defended Trump University as recently as Friday at a campaign rally in San Diego. He argued that Curiel is not only an Obama appointee, but is also “a hater,” according to Fox 13.

“The trial is going to take place sometime in November. There should be no trial. This should have been dismissed on summary judgment easily, everybody says it. But I have judge who is a hater of Donald Trump, a hater. He’s a hater.”

Trump University LLC was founded in 2004 by Donald Trump and two of his business partners, Michael Sexton and John Spitainy. A year later, the New York Department of Education informed Trump and his associates that they could not use the word “university” in the name of the school, as legally, they had not obtained a charter or accreditation.

NYSDE also informed Trump and associates that they couldn’t offer live training to students in New York State due to lack of a license, which is required, per education policies in the state. In June 2010, the name was changed to the “Trump Entrepreneur Initiative.”

Faux Trump University Diploma, March 3, 2016. [Photo by Wikiepietime/Wikimedia Commons]
Faux Trump University certificate, March 3, 2016. [Photo by Wikiepietime/Wikimedia Commons]
Courses at Trump University ranged in price from approximately $1,500 to $35,000. The less expensive courses were 3-day seminars, while the most expensive “gold-level” program included personal mentoring and on-site real estate tours. Students were looking for access to information that would help them become prosperous like the school’s namesake.

Many were disappointed and said the classes were worthless and dispersed knowledge that was readily available elsewhere. The lawsuit states the classes were like “infomercials,” encouraging students to buy more but not delivering on promises. Alan Garten, a Trump attorney, said the former university should not be blamed because students had difficulty selling real estate during the 2008 recession.

Attorneys who are fighting on behalf of Trump University said the playbooks contain trade secrets and the information inside them shouldn’t be disclosed. Curiel said it is unlikely that the school will reopen, and the information has no commercial value.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

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