After Winning $8.9 Million Consumer Fraud Verdict Against Star Academy, MoreMarrone LLC Files Motion for Disgorgement of Additional $6 Million in Federal Grant Money
Camden, NJ (PRWEB) January 22, 2016 -- In the wake of an $8.9 million New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) verdict in favor of over 1000 students against a for-profit school, Class Action lawyer Thomas More Marrone of MoreMarrone LLC has filed a motion for disgorgement of an additional $5.5 million that Star Career Academy received from the United States in the form of education grants -- plus $500,000 in interest on the grant money. Marrone has also filed a motion to assess an additional several hundred thousand dollars on the verdict under the CFA and a motion for CFA attorney’s fees. The Court is expected to consider these motions in the next several weeks.
On October 29th, 2015, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Camden County (Polanco v. Star Career Academy, et al., Docket No: 415-13), according to court documents, returned a class action verdict against Star Career Academy, a New Jersey for-profit school, under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The disgorgement filing continues the Polanco v Star Career Academy case. The verdict in favor of more than 1000 current and former Surgical Technology Students totaled $8.9 million including treble damages, and came after a five week class action jury trial.
Thomas More Marrone of MoreMarrone LLC served as Court-appointed Class Counsel and with co-Class Counsel tried the case to verdict. Under cross-examination at trial, according to court documents, Star’s CEO agreed with Marrone that Star’s Surgical Technology Program did not, in fact, have “program accreditation,” and that it would be “a lie” to say that it did. This testimony contradicted Star’s written statements to New Jersey’s Department of Health and Star’s student body that Star’s Surgical Technology “program” was “accredited.”
According to court documents, after the verdict, Marrone said, "The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act law places ethical responsibilities on the shoulders of corporations like Star Career Academy and its owners. The Jury found that Star violated those responsibilities. It took three years of litigation and five weeks of trial to bring Star to justice, but it was worth it. The Class Members deserve it.”
Based on the court documents, Star Career Academy obtained the Federal Grant money during the years that the jury determined Star Career Academy was engaging in Consumer Fraud.
The case is Polanco v. Star Career Academy, et al. Superior Court of New Jersey, Camden County, Law Division. Docket No: 415-13
About Thomas More Marrone and MoreMarrone LLC
MoreMarrone LLC has handled cases producing some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The firm represents plaintiffs in significant personal injury, class action, and other complex civil litigation. After a recent 11-month stretch that included two class action jury trials resulting in a settlement and verdict amounting to well over $15 million, in addition to several substantial personal injury recoveries, successful business and employment negotiations, and hundreds of satisfied clients, Tom Marrone established his multifaceted firm, MoreMarrone LLC.
Licensed to practice in the State and Federal courts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, Tom Marrone has extensive experience and proven success handling difficult, complex cases, especially class actions and collective actions, cases involving personal injury, employment, wage and hour claims, insurance matters, product liability, consumer protection, consumer fraud, deceptive practices, legal malpractice, and wrongful use of civil proceedings.
Individual and corporate clients also engage MoreMarrone LLC for advisory services, including legal matters, crisis prevention and crisis management. A veteran class action trial lawyer, Tom Marrone also offers consultations with other attorneys and law firms related to class action and complex litigation theory development, implementation, and trial strategy.
Contact:
Tom Marrone
MoreMarrone LLC
1601 Market Street, Suite 2500
Philadelphia, PA 19103
[email protected]
215-966-4142
http://www.moremarrone.com
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Tom Marrone, MoreMarrone LLC, http://www.moremarrone.com, +1 215-966-4142, [email protected]
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