Plaintiff Brian Ralston filed a putative class action complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 1, 2022 (LASC Case No. 22STCV18066) against the University of Southern California (“USC”) and the USC Alumni Association (“USCAA”), claiming that USC and the USCAA have wrongfully terminated and/or deprived him and his fellow GRCT graduates of lifetime USCAA membership (“Alumni Status”) and valuable benefits (“Alumni Benefits”), after having promised and provided such alumni status and benefits to GRCT graduates for over a decade.

Mr. Ralston and his fellow GRCT graduates were promised Alumni Status and Alumni Benefits by USC and the USCAA upon graduation from their GRCT programs, which they paid full tuition rates, and in some cases double the tuition rates, for.  After their graduation and USC Commencement ceremonies that they were invited by USC to participate in, GRCT graduates were welcomed into the USCAA as members for a “lifetime,” provided with USC Alumni Association IDs with unique identifying numbers, and given Alumni Status and Alumni Benefits, for over a decade, before such Alumni Status and Alumni Benefits were wrongfully taken away.  These Alumni Benefits include, among other things, automatic listing in the online USC Alumni Directory, access to such Alumni Directory, access to the exclusive USC Alumni Online Community Boards, access to exclusive USC Career Services initiatives, webinars and events, Trojan Network, Skill Up With USC Online, lifetime USC Alumni email address, access to Google Drive with unlimited storage, discounts at USC retail shops and restaurants, and USC Libraries privileges, among other exclusive privileges.   

Mr. Ralston brings claims against USC and the USCAA for Breach of Contract, Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, Negligent Misrepresentation, Consumers Legal Remedies Act Violations, False Advertising, and Unfair Competition.  Mr. Ralston seeks, among other things, restitutionary damages, as well as injunctive relief in the form of: 1) an order requiring that USC and USCAA return the Alumni Status and Alumni Benefits to the proposed Class, as well as 2) an order requiring USC and USCAA to modify their marketing for the GRCT programs and for the USCAA to clearly notify the public, moving forward, about what Alumni Status and Alumni Benefits come with GRCT degrees.