Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Texas
grad student receiving undergrad info
I based my decision to attend graduate school on a Course Description Catalog specified for the summer and fall of 2002. It was created by the individual department of my area of study. It included a long list of courses that I could have chosen from.
I made the move to my new school and registered as soon as possible only to find that the majority of courses that were listed in the catalog were not being offered at a graduate level. I learned that they were in fact undergraduate courses. I spoke with an advisor and complained that a graduate student should only receive course information on graduate courses, and if nothing at all, the catalog should have distinguished between undergrad and graduate courses. She conceded that there had been a ''miscommunication'' and that in future catalogs she will make a distinction.
I have decided not attend the university because of the lack of courses available to me. Do I have the legal right to ask for compensation, mainly for money I have wasted in the move and for rent now that I am stuck in a lease? Additionally, I would have attended grad school elsewhere if I had known that the courses in the catalog were primarily offered at the undergraduate level.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: grad student receiving undergrad info
The answer to your question will be determined by the laws of the state where the university is located, and whether it is a private or state university.
If a private university in Texas, you have the basis of a suit under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices/Consumer Protection Act. If a state school, they are immune from suit as a governmental entity (sovereign immunity).
It's not the strongest case I've ever seen, since the defense will argue that you had a duty to investigate further before making the committment, and that would have shown that the catalog was in error.
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