I wrote to West Virginia Wesleyan College for clarification about a professor whose undergraduate degree is from an unknown institution - "University of Columbia" - and whose PhD is from "Warnborough University". I think the response below stands in its own league of stupidity and incompetence.
They are just covering their as***. The lawyer is basically taking a defensive approach and giving you enough information so you cannot argue that they were not open for discussion. If they accept that the degree is bogus they may be liable for negligence and this might mean lots of money. They might think that you are a graduate or student and just scared about a legal sue. I have received similar letters from corporate lawyers looking to avoid a legal sue.
WV Wesleyan Response re "Warnborough U" & "U of Columbia" Covering their ass*** ?? "[Warnborough University] appears to be legitimate, and accredited in Europe" ?? They've just exposed themselves to major embarrassment. Clearly this counsel did no investigation at all.
You have to wonder how this stuff happens. WVWC is no fly-by-night. No general offense intended, but you can almost see how it happens at a for-profit (and it often does), as they don't generally have the pool of candidates from which to choose, so they must occasionally "settle" and hold their noses. But looking at the faculty at WVWC, their bios are generally quite solid, doctorates and masters from national B&M universities almost without exception. Well, with one exception. How'd that guy make it in there? Boggles the mind.
actually, I'm thinking the counsel has taken the wrong tack - but that's baised on my experience in PR and "damage control" some years back. Now the counselor has to admit in the future "well, yes we were advised otherwise, but we felt that we were more informed than the person who tried to warn us; so we ignored and rebuked him..." IMHO - he'd have been better off with the "really? We'll have to check that out, it's so hard to keep track of these things these days..." - at least he could then say later "we're still checking" instead of what he has said now which adds no credit to his ability to evaluate credentials... just a few of my thoughts < available for damage control consulting >