BAR/BRI Charging Too Much for Test Preparation?
Posted by
Mike SimonAugust 04, 2007 3:39 PMA new class action lawsuit has been filed against the country's biggest bar exam preparation company, BAR/BRI bar review, alleging that the company fraudulently and deceptively induced students from New York law schools to purchase BAR/BRI products at inflated prices. The plaintiffs in the $48 million suit are two 2005 graduates and one 2006 graduate from Albany Law School.
The initial class action lawsuit filed was filed on April 29 against BAR/BRI bar review and the West Publishing Corporation, and Kaplan, Inc. The suit claimed that BAR/BRI withdrew from the LSAT preparation business and Kaplan agreed not to enter the bar-review course market, resulting in BAR/BRI students being overcharged, on average, $1000 each, or $300 million collectively. A federal judge approved a $49 million settlement in early July.
Every year, between 35,000 and 40,000 people graduate from the nearly 200 law schools approved by the American Bar Association, and many take a BAR/BRI course. BAR/BRI advertises the course heavily at law schools and hires law students to serve as on-campus representatives.
This is the second antitrust action filed against BAR/BRI. The first was settled for $49 million.