Judge approves $25M Trump University settlement

A federal judge on Friday approved a lawsuit settlement requiring President Trump to pay $25 million to former students of his now-defunct Trump University, bringing to a close a yearslong legal saga that marred his run for president. 

“The court finds that the amount offered in settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable, and accordingly concludes that this factor weighs in favor of final approval,” U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel wrote in his ruling. 

{mosads}The decision settles two class-action lawsuits brought by customers who claimed the Trump-branded education venture misled them into enrolling in expensive classes that promised real estate success.  

It also settles a civil suit brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who said the company’s actions carried “the hallmark of a snake-oil salesman.”

Schneiderman said Friday the settlement “will provide relief — and hopefully much-needed closure — to the victims of Donald Trump’s fraudulent university.”

“In particular, I am pleased that we were able to ensure that members of the class action settlement will receive an even higher settlement than originally anticipated,” he added. 

Trump University was not required to admit wrongdoing in the settlement. 

Trump repeatedly refused to settle the case and even boasted about his hard-line stance during his presidential campaign. He blasted Curiel, making the incendiary claim that his Mexican heritage made it impossible for him to rule fairly in the case because of Trump’s immigration positions. 

But following the election last November, Trump announced he would settle. 

“I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country,” he wrote on Twitter at the time.