Agree. This is a summary judgement kind of thing. If there is no dispute that the contract was signed then there is no dispute on facts. Very inexpensive for the school to sue and very likely that they would also recover attorney's fees, despite that being a relatively rarity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep -- then you can pay court costs and their lawyer fees too!

Anonymous wrote:Don’t pay it and let them sue.

It's simply to risky to sue. You can make this a media story very easily. Additionally, they likely won't get awarded attorney's fees. If they want to spend 100k in legal fees to get 40k then go ahead. Make it clear to them that you will make it as costly as possible to obtain any sort of judgement.

This happens frequently and yes, they do get awarded attorneys fees, interest, and court costs.

Read your contract, know exactly what (if any) flexibility you have, and speak with the school about your situation. That's the best, and only, thing you can do, and it's the adult thing to do.

Ummm...its not free to you and also risky. No attorney takes this on contingency. What is the media story? One parent lost job, don't want to wait for tuition insurance to kick in, also likely have lots of other assets like a house. If you are certain, I would reach out to the school and see if they can help. And then negotiate.

Anonymous wrote:Yep -- then you can pay court costs and their lawyer fees too!

Anonymous wrote:Don’t pay it and let them sue.

It's simply to risky to sue. You can make this a media story very easily. Additionally, they likely won't get awarded attorney's fees. If they want to spend 100k in legal fees to get 40k then go ahead. Make it clear to them that you will make it as costly as possible to obtain any sort of judgement.

Anonymous wrote:What about asking for financial aid so you can stay? Is that an option?

+1

Yep -- then you can pay court costs and their lawyer fees too!

Anonymous wrote:Don’t pay it and let them sue.

You do realize that the reason these contracts are ironclad is because hiring teachers under contract for the year requires the school to have a basic amount of income. "A media story" -- you mean you signed a contract and want to get out of it? I understand circumstances change, but unfortunately contracts are contracts -- mortgage, auto, loans....

Anonymous wrote:Don’t pay it and let them sue.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t pay it and let them sue.

Schools sue for this all the time. It’s an easy case - here is the contract they signed, here is their payment record.

Don’t pay it and let them sue.

I doubt they'll let you off the hook entirely, OP. Small privates are usually at high risk of financial loss, and they know a lot of their families are going to ask because of federal job cuts and the domino effect it has on contractors and services. If you negotiate successfully, you might just have to pay for the fall semester...

You won't get anything unless you can prove job loss or moving, though. I don't know if it would help to contact them before either of these things are 100% certain and documented.

Anonymous wrote:Being able to get someone off waitlist is not enough. Our neighbor pulled out of a school contract in June a few years ago, and school was able to fill slot, but school did make her pay full amount.

Wow, so greedy.

Schools absolutely go after people who break the contract and try not to pay. However, some schools may be more lenient in the current job market, especially if they can fill the spot and you ask politely (vs being belligerent or refusing to pay).

As noted earlier, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

You do realize that the reason these contracts are ironclad is because hiring teachers under contract for the year requires the school to have a basic amount of income. "A media story" -- you mean you signed a contract and want to get out of it? I understand circumstances change, but unfortunately contracts are contracts -- mortgage, auto, loans....

Anonymous wrote:Don't pay and let them sue you. 90% chance they won't do it and if they do make it a media story

Anonymous wrote:Don't pay and let them sue you. 90% chance they won't do it and if they do make it a media story

Schools sue for this all the time. It’s an easy case - here is the contract they signed, here is their payment record.