Former Student Wins 13 Million Against For-profit

I don't mind if you disagree with the verdict and the award. You're entitled to your opinion. The problem that I'm having is that some people in this thread are stating their opinions as if they are facts and they don't actually know the facts of the case. It might be your opinion that the award is excessive and it might be your opinion that the jury is sending a message to someone but the reality is that you don't really know. Idle speculation with no support. That's fine, as long as it's labeled as such. You say that the woman involved didn't incur that much damage but we know that damage is measured in many ways, not just the money she lost or the time she lost. There are other sorts of damages that may have occurred that account for the large reward but you're assuming that you know best. I'm assuming that the judge and jury knew what they were doing and did the right thing. The fact is that the judge and jury, the people who know the most about this case, made a decision based on all the available information and we know the result. You've decided not only that they're wrong but they were wrong deliberately and that you know their motivation. That's just incredible. I'm assuming that the case was handled properly by competent people. The fact that it will likely go to appeal means virtually nothing as any case can be appealed, even on the flimsiest of grounds. Bringing a case to appeal does not mean that the verdict will be overturned or even that the award will be reduced. If you decide to follow the case through the appeal process please let us know how it all ends up. As it is I choose to believe that justice has been served.

 

While we are all inclined to believe that judges and jurors are the perfect example of impartial decision makers...for the most part, they are not. Everyone (yes, everyone) has some bias. For some it may be great, for some it may be small. That's all a part of being human. The only thing that makes it close to being impartial is that you have several different (in theory) biases that could/should cancel each other out. The award is excessive. Even the attorney for the plaintiff (from the article I posted at the bottom of the first page of this thread) implies that the amount was excessive. The support is history. 9 out of 10 times when you have damages that are so excessive it's normally when the jury is trying to send a message. Most jurys may make emotional decisions but they aren't stupid. They normally know when they are "overstepping" their boundaries. So for them to do that, in the face of both the request for damages by the plaintiff and statutory law would normally be deemed as clear evidence of "punishment". Does anyone except for individuals that actually had the thought in their head know for sure? Absolutely not.

 

I visited the college's website, and it sure does say Medical Assistant. No "office" in there anywhere. Vatterott College | Medical Assistant Training Program It does not say anything about nursing, but based on their program description, I think it sounds as if you'd be doing medical activities, not just front desk. From their site "Graduates of this program should possess the skills to obtain employment in both clinical and administrative areas of the health care field. Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow over 30 percent throughout the next decade, faster than average for all jobs."

Here is what they say about course of study "The Medical Assistant degree program provides classes in basic courses in communication, English, mathematics, and psychology. The courses then focus on medical language, medical assistant skills and various medical assistant duties. Students learn clinical duties, pharmacology, medical terminology instruction, drug administration, medical insurance billing, claims processing, and the handling of medical records. The Medical Assistant courses in Joplin also include laboratory techniques and hands-on training courses in phlebotomy, pre-physical exam preparation, radiology procedures, physical therapy, electrocardiograms, clinical instruments, medical writing and transcription, medication mathematics and much more. Also, each student will also complete further medical assistant training through an externship."

I'm always in the camp of "buyer beware" but EVEN NON PROFIT colleges really push job readiness, and this is not a new complaint. I do wonder why she didn't get hired at her externship site, but that's just musing. Colleges are masters at dotting the "i" and crossing the "t" when it comes to it, but I don't believe they make an effort to be transparent, and when you are selling such an expensive (money AND time) product, you should be transparent.

 

I didn't take it as a political statement. I think he was just reiterating the fact that TA has a lot of assets.

 

There is medical assistant certification in both administrative (CMA-A) and clinical (CMA-C). A number of medical assistants will receive both certifications and become a CMA-AC. A good medical assistant program can prepare student for both office management and serving as a clinical assistant. The problem in this case (and in other high profile cases) is whether the school misrepresented its program to the student and took the student's money. The jury obviously was convinced and wanted to send a message. Of course, there is no way to prove that the damages come anywhere close to $13 million and the actual payout will be far less, but the message has been sent loud and clear.

As someone who now works in private-sector education (after more than two decades in public-sector and private non-profit education), I am pleased when dishonest operations get their just rewards and saddened that the rest of us (who do not act this way) get painted with the same broad brush.