If your mailbox in Seattle suddenly coughed up a small check from the University of Washington, you are part of a long-running Covid tuition fight finally coming to an end. UW students have started receiving settlement payments from a court-approved deal that resolved claims the school charged full in-person tuition even after moving classes online during the 2020 campus shutdowns. The pot is $4 million, which works out to roughly $40 per eligible student, touching an estimated 56,000 people who paid for on-campus instruction that winter and spring. Distribution began last Friday.
What the settlement covers
The agreement covers students who were enrolled in and paid for in-person programs during the Winter and Spring 2020 quarters and was negotiated to avoid a long legal slog. The deal, along with the court’s final approval in October, created a $4 million fund to be split among class members, according to Hagens Berman.
How payments are being sent
Students in the class do not have to file claims. The settlement administrator is mailing checks to class members using their last known UW mailing addresses, and also offered Venmo and PayPal payments for people who updated their preferences. The notice site says the $4 million will be divided among roughly 56,000 eligible students and that payments were scheduled to be mailed last Friday, according to the University of Washington Covid Litigation website.
Small checks, some opt outs
Local coverage reports that the typical payout is about $40 per person, and that a small number of students chose to exclude themselves from the class entirely. Steve W. Berman, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, told KING 5 the distribution offers some relief to students who paid for on-campus instruction but ended up finishing those quarters online.
Legal details and next steps
The case, filed in 2020 as Barry v. University of Washington, accused UW of breach of contract and unjust enrichment after the sudden shift to remote classes. The court granted final approval of the settlement but said it would issue a separate order on attorneys’ fees, litigation costs and any service award. The court’s final approval order also notes that a limited number of students validly opted out of the settlement and that the court will keep jurisdiction to oversee how the deal is implemented, according to Hagens Berman.
What students should do
If you think you qualify and have not seen a check, the settlement site lists contact details for the administrator and includes a payment election form. The FAQ also explains that any money left from uncashed checks will be split between the Legal Foundation of Washington and UW Emergency Aid. For phone numbers, mailing information and online forms, see the University of Washington Covid Litigation website.
