Shorter University announces a tentative deal in lawsuit

Students filed a suit after records were stolen from the Winthrop-King Centre.

Shorter University has announced it has reached a “preliminary resolution” with former students who filed a class action lawsuit in federal court.

The lawsuit arose from a 2014 burglary that occurred on Shorter’s campus, where hard-copy student records were stolen from the training room at the Winthrop-King Centre.

Andy Davis, an attorney for Shorter, said the settlement totals $175,000 and will be covered by Shorter’s insurance carrier.

Shorter has agreed to pay for one additional year of credit monitoring and protection service for all students affected by the 2014 theft.

The settlement also creates a settlement fund providing a reimbursement up to $175 per student for certain out-ofpocket expenses that each may have incurred as a result of the theft.

The claims administrator appointed by the court will notify all affected former students of the proposed settlement, according to the news release.

Shorter University does not admit any liability and continues to deny any alleged liability.

Fraudulent tax returns using the names and information of 11 former students

were filed, the college announced.

Davis said the proposed agreement will be sent back to Rome’s U.S. District Court Judge Harold Murphy, who will set a hearing date.

Davis said he is optimistic the court will approve the proposal.