Students sue over inauguration trip

May 14, 2009|Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A class action lawsuit was filed in federal court yesterday on behalf of more than 15,000 students who paid thousands of dollars to attend President Barack Obama's inauguration but reportedly were left out in the cold.

The lawsuit says Envision EMI of Virginia promised middle school, high school, and college students across the country special access to the inauguration, parade, and a black tie inaugural ball on Jan. 20.

But the suit says once the students got to Washington, they had no tickets for the inauguration or parade. And the balls they attended were not connected to the inauguration.

Envision reportedly brought in $40 million from the inaugural sales, has said it would refund students $1 million. But the lawsuit says that would only reimburse each attendee about $65. The students were charged $2,380 to $2,620 and also had to pay for travel to Washington and formal wear for the ball.

"These kids took odd jobs and raised funds from family, friends, and strangers in order to participate in the defendants' inaugural youth conference to eyewitness a truly historical event," said Bernard DiMuro of DiMuroGinsberg PC, which filed the lawsuit jointly with another law firm, Hausfeld LLP. "Instead, all they saw was the inside of a bus or were dropped off near the Washington Monument to fend for themselves."