Three class representative students from the California State University (“CSU”) campuses Pomona (CalPoly Pomona), San Bernardino (CSUSB), and Sonoma (Sonoma State) sued CSU claiming that CSU charged them tuition and fees for in-person classes and access to other on-campus services, but did not provide those classes or services as expected, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A judge has recently certified this class action lawsuit and ruled that these three students (hereinafter, the “Class Representatives”) can represent other students at these three CSU campuses who were also enrolled for at least one in-person course for the Spring 2020 semester or quarter (hereinafter, “Class Members”).
The class action lawsuit is Vakilzadeh, et al. v. The Trustees of the California State University, Lead Case No. 20STCV23134, pending in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California.
CSU denies the claims in this lawsuit. The Court has not made any judgment or other determination that CSU has or does not have any liability.
The lawyers for the Class Members must now prove their claims against CSU. If money or other benefits for Class Members are obtained at a trial or through settlement, another notice will be issued providing details of such benefits.
If you are a Class Member, your rights are affected whether you act or do not act in response to the notice. Please read the Notice and FAQs carefully and completely.
Summary Of Your Legal Rights and Options in this Lawsuit | Deadline | |
Do Nothing | Stay in this class action. Await the outcome. By doing nothing, you will remain a Class Member. You maintain the possibility of receiving money or other benefits that may come as the result of a trial or a settlement in the lawsuit. But you give up your right to sue CSU separately about the issues in this lawsuit and you will be bound by any judgment in the lawsuit. You will not be responsible for any legal fees or costs associated with this class action. If you would prefer to be represented by your own attorney, you may hire one at your own expense. | No Deadline |
Opt Out of the Lawsuit | Get out of this class action lawsuit. Receive no benefits, but keep any rights you may have to bring a separate lawsuit against CSU. If you ask to exclude yourself from this class action (i.e. to opt out), you will not be able to share in any money or other benefits that may be awarded later. But you will keep any rights you may have to sue CSU separately about the issues in the lawsuit. If you choose to sue CSU separately, you will be responsible for your own legal fees and costs. | September 4, 2025 |
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California (the “Court”), has recently certified this class action lawsuit. The Court ruled that three students (hereinafter, the “Class Representatives”) who are the Plaintiffs in this lawsuit, can represent other students at three California State University (“CSU”) campuses who were enrolled for at least one in-person course for the Spring 2020 semester or quarter (hereinafter, “Class Members”). The Court authorized this Notice, which explains the lawsuit and what rights Class Members have.
The class action lawsuit is captioned Vakilzadeh, et al. v. The Trustees of the California State University, Lead Case No. 20STCV23134, and is pending in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California. The three students who filed this lawsuit are called the “Plaintiffs” (and now have been appointed by the Court as Class Representatives) and CSU is called the “Defendant.”
Three students from the CSU campuses Pomona (CalPoly Pomona), San Bernardino (CSUSB), and Sonoma (Sonoma State) sued CSU claiming that CSU charged them tuition and fees for in-person classes and access to other on-campus services, but did not provide those classes or services as expected, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CSU denies the claims in this lawsuit. The Court has not made any judgment or other determination that CSU has or does not have any liability.
In a class action, one or more individuals sue on behalf of other people with similar claims. These individuals are called the “Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives.” Together, the people included in the class action, both the Plaintiffs and the people they represent, are called the “Class” or “Class Members.” One court resolves the class action for all Class Members, except for those who opt out (i.e. exclude themselves from the class action).
In this class action, the Plaintiffs/Class Representatives are Zhubeen Vakilzadeh, Brady Egbert, and Kaitlyn McArdle, and everyone they represent in the lawsuit are the Class Members. More information about why the Court certified this lawsuit as a class action is in the Court’s ruling certifying the class, available at www.CSUCovidLawsuit.com.
No. The Court has not made any judgment or other determination whether CSU or the Class Representatives are right. By certifying the Class and issuing this Notice, the Court has not made any determination about whether the Plaintiffs will win or lose the lawsuit against the Defendant. The parties are currently litigating the merits of the lawsuit. To win, the Plaintiffs must prove their claims at a trial. More information about a possible trial is in Question 13, below.
No. Because the Court has not made any judgment or other determination that CSU has or does not have any liability, and CSU and the Class Representatives have not settled the lawsuit, there is no money or other benefit available now. There is no guarantee that money or other benefits will be available later, but if the Plaintiffs win the lawsuit or there is a settlement, another notice will be issued providing further details.
If you received a financial aid award for the Spring 2020 term (semester or quarter), the financial aid award you received may affect the amount of any refund or other benefit you may receive from this lawsuit.
You are a Class Member if you:
were a student at CSU Pomona (CalPoly Pomona), CSU San Bernardino (CSUSB), or CSU Sonoma (Sonoma State) who;
paid or was obligated to pay tuition (CSU Category I fees) and/or mandatory campus fees (CSU Category II fees) for the Spring 2020 term (semester or quarter) at CSU Pomona, CSU San Bernardino, or CSU Sonoma; and
enrolled in at least one course for the Spring 2020 term which, before March 18, 2020, was classified as an in-person course.
The Class excludes Class Counsel, any employees of Class Counsel, any officers, directors, or employees of CSU, and the judge presiding over this case (as well as Court staff). The Class will also exclude anyone who properly requests to be excluded (see Section 9 below).
No, if you are a Class Member and do nothing, then you will stay a Class Member and another notice will be issued if you are later entitled to receive any money or other benefits from this lawsuit.
Keep in mind that unless you opt out of (i.e. exclude yourself from) the lawsuit, regardless of whether Plaintiffs win or lose at a possible trial, you will not be able to sue CSU about the issues that are in this lawsuit.
No. If you do not want to be part of this lawsuit, or would like to file your own lawsuit against CSU about the issues that are in this lawsuit, you can exclude yourself from the class. Excluding yourself is also called “opting out.” If you opt out, you are telling the Court that you do not want to be part of this lawsuit. If you opt out, you will not receive money or other benefits that may result from this lawsuit, but you will keep any rights you may have to sue CSU separately about the issues in this lawsuit.
The deadline to opt out from this lawsuit is September 4, 2025.
If you want to opt out of this class action lawsuit, you must make a timely request for exclusion to the class action administrator (contact information below). You have two ways to submit a request for exclusion. You may submit your request for exclusion via the online portal on the notice website or by mailing a written letter.
If you choose to submit an online Request for Exclusion, it must be made via the portal on the notice website located at: www.CSUCovidLawsuit.com
If you choose to mail a written Request for Exclusion, it must be mailed to the class action administrator at:
CSU Covid Class Action
ATTN: Request for Exclusion
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
To be valid, your written Request for Exclusion must contain the following information:
the name of the class action lawsuit, which is Vakilzadeh, et al. v. The Trustees of the California State University, Lead Case No. 20STCV23134, pending in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California;
your full name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number;
your personal signature; and
the words “Request for Exclusion” or a clear and similar statement that you do not want to participate in the class action lawsuit.
You may only exclude yourself—not any other person.
To be valid, an online Request for Exclusion must be made via the portal on the notice website by September 4, 2025.A written Request for Exclusion must be postmarked by September 4, 2025.
Yes, the Court appointed attorneys from the following two law firms (“Class Counsel”) to represent the Class Members: Pearson Warshaw, LLP (formerly Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP), and Kazerouni Law Group, APC.
Contact Information:
Daniel Warshaw of Pearson Warshaw, LLP, 15165 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 400, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403; (818) 788-8300; CSUCovidLawsuit@pwfirm.com
Abbas Kazerounian of Kazerouni Law Group, APC, 245 Fischer Avenue Unit D1, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; (800) 778-2065; CSUCovidLawsuit@kazlg.com
You will not be charged for Class Counsel’s services. If you want your own lawyer, you may hire one at your expense.
If Class Counsel recovers money or other benefits for the Class, they will ask the Court for fees and expenses. You will not have to pay these fees and expenses out of your own pocket. Rather, if the Court grants Class Counsel’s request, the fees and expenses would be deducted from any money obtained for the Class and/or paid separately by CSU.
The parties are currently litigating the merits of the lawsuit. A trial will start no later than June 17, 2026 in the courtroom of Judge Elihu M. Berle, Department 6, located at the Spring Street Courthouse, 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Information about the date and location of a trial, which may change, will be posted at www.CSUCovidLawsuit.com.
If a trial goes forward, Class Counsel will have to prove the Class Representatives’ claims. During the trial, a jury and/or Judge Berle will hear all of the evidence to help reach a decision about whether the Class Representatives or CSU is right about the claims in the lawsuit. There is no guarantee that Plaintiffs will win or that they will obtain any money or other benefits for the Class.
No. Unless you are called as a witness, you do not have to come to the trial. Class Counsel will present the lawsuit for the Class, and the results of any possible trial will be posted at www.CSUCovidLawsuit.com.
If you wish to attend the trial, please note that effective April 4, 2022, face masks are strongly recommended inside the Courthouse. Visit https://www.lacourt.org for any updates on the Court’s social distancing procedures. The General Information telephone number for the Courthouse is: (213) 310-7000.
If Class Members obtain money or other benefits as a result of a trial or a settlement, another notice will be issued providing details of such money or benefits. We do not know how long this will take.
If you received a financial aid award for the Spring 2020 term (semester or quarter), the financial aid award you received may affect the amount of any refund or other benefit you may receive from this lawsuit.
This Notice summarizes your rights in the certified class action lawsuit. If you have any questions, you may contact Class Counsel listed above in Question 10. Certain case documents and other information are also available here: www.CSUCovidLawsuit.com.
You can obtain case information online via the Court’s website by visiting https://www.lacourt.ca.gov/pages/lp/access-a-case/tp/find-case-information/cp/os-civil-case-access and inserting “20STCV23134” in the “CASE NUMBER” field, and clicking “SEARCH.” You also may obtain Court records by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, located at 312 North Spring Street, CA 90012, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays (fees may apply). Appointments are strongly encouraged for Clerk’s office services.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, CSU OR CSU’S ATTORNEYS REGARDING THIS NOTICE