Trump University court battle appears over

SAN DIEGO — A judge on Friday approved an agreement for President Donald Trump to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits over his now-defunct Trump University, ending nearly seven years of legal battles with customers who claimed they were misled by failed promises to teach success in real estate.

Plaintiff attorneys say about 3,730 people will get at least 90 percent of their money back.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel settles two class-action lawsuits and a civil lawsuit by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that had dogged the Republican businessman throughout his presidential campaign.

Trump fueled the controversy by repeatedly assailing Curiel, insinuating that the Indiana-born judge’s Mexican heritage exposed a bias.

Trump had vowed never to settle. But he said after the election that he didn’t have time for a trial, even though he believed he would have prevailed.

Under terms of the settlement, Trump admits no wrongdoing.

“Trump University’s victims waited years for compensation, while President Trump refused to settle and fought us every step of the way — until his stunning reversal last fall,” said Schneiderman, a Democrat who is contributing $1.6 million of his $4 million portion of the settlement to former customers.

The lawsuits alleged that Trump University gave nationwide seminars that were like infomercials, constantly pressuring people to spend more and, in the end, failing to deliver.

Curiel, in his decision, said exceptionally high payouts and objections from only two of an estimated 7,000 eligible former customers weighed in favor of his approval.

The judge strongly rejected a request by customer Sherri Simpson of Florida who argued that she should have been given more opportunity to opt out of the settlement. If he had agreed, the prospect of more litigation would have likely derailed the deal.