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Trump University Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Real Estate Seminars

Trump University Student Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Trump University Over Real Estate Seminars

A class action lawsuit was filed against Trump University, LLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (styled Tarla Makaeff v. Trump University, LLC., Case No. 3:10-cv-0940 IEG) alleging that Trump University promised, among other things, a complete real estate education, an apprenticeship, mentorship and practical and fail-safe real estate techniques, but purportedly did not provide students what they bargained for but instead allegedly taught them how to spend more money buying more Trump seminars, according to class action lawsuit news reports.

For more information on the Trump University class action lawsuit, read the Trump University class action complaint.

If You Have Thoughts On TheTrump University Real Estate Seminar Class Action Lawsuit, Share Your Class Action Comments Below.

{ 17 comments… add one }
  • domenic September 8, 2010, 7:48 am

    What do you have to do if you would like to be included in the class action lawsuit?

    • shirley February 6, 2011, 10:08 pm

      I would also like to know what needs to be done to be included in the class action lawsuit? This put me in a horrible financial situation. I really need to recoup my money!

      • Consuelo Castro May 11, 2011, 11:00 am

        I lost over 8K at Trumph University, I never got the services I was promised either. at the time, I was unemployed and I had big hopes to start a my own business, instead I got cheet out of my money and nothing to show for. I would like to add my name to the class action law suit, please tell me how to do it.

  • Salvatore Di Criscio September 28, 2010, 3:09 pm

    I feel like an idoit. I trusted TRUMP university seminrs and courses. It was blind ambition. I would like to recoup my money. Let me know what I need to do!

    Thank you.

  • john Taylor November 10, 2010, 3:48 pm

    How do we Sue this prick over Trump Network they LIED LIKE CRazy about thios and a LOT of people did and are still losing a lot of money, any attorney wants a lawsuit give me an email and I can give you a list a MILE long of people who were lied to and SCAMMED from the TRUMP NETWORK

  • JR March 10, 2011, 1:19 pm

    I have added my name to the class action lawsuit. I believe Trump had good intentions when he started the program, but just hired a lot of people who invested in real estate during the boom and could make no mistakes in real estate. Trump continued scamming people the last couple of years knowing that the real estate investment approach they taught would not work in this market – economic downturn.

    Individuals like Gerald Martin, Chris Goff, Eric Brown, John Jameson, Steve Gilpen, etc. would attempt to sell their personal mentoring to Trump students at subsequent seminars for several thousands of dollars. Their greed got in the way of performing their job. These individuals would give numerous accounts of their successes and then would say – “don’t you want to work with me”. This is a blatant conflict of interest. An individual should not be permitted to sell their services to individuals who have already paid for the real estate training.

    In my view the above individuals did not know the Trump technique for real estate investment and some barely knew Trump – so how could they claim one would be using the Trump secrets.

    I encourage all people to voice their opinions. Trump thinks he can run for President. Trump needs to clean up this mess before he hits the campaign trail. In my view he has little or no regard for the individuals he has scammed with his business venture.

    The Trump University, now Trump Initiative, only has a hand full of employees who are servicing the remaining contracts and then closing down the entire operation. All of the presenters with the exception of Steve Gilpin are no longer with the organization. All of the presenters support group, like Tiffany Brinkman and Gillian Birnie are gone.

    • Chris Goff May 27, 2011, 4:50 pm

      Mr. JR,
      I am not sure who you are, because you did not have the courage to put your name to the words you wrote here, but I know a few things for sure.
      One: You are not one of MY students, because if you were, there would not be the statement “the real estate investment approach they taught would not work in this market – economic downturn.” in your diatribe above. As far as educational content in the programs, Trump didn’t scam ANYONE. How do I know this? Because I WROTE much of the material in the programs. I was commissioned by TU to do this based on the fact that I have MANY successful students who have praised my knowledge and teaching style. The methods I taught for Trump, and continue to teach on my own, are EXACTLY the sort of methods that allow savvy investors to make money in today’s market. And no, you DON’T need to use your own money or credit. This is not a business where you can sit back, not do any work, and expect to make a profit, however. As with any business, it requires HARD WORK, and I have stressed this to EVERY individual I have spoken with concerning Real Estate Investing. Most students who aren’t successful are the ones who are lazy. Period. MY guess is, based on the completely erroneous comments above, that you fall in this category. If you were anything else, you would have researched properly, and would not have put in the comment that leads me to my next point.
      Two: “Individuals like Gerald Martin, Chris Goff, Eric Brown, John Jameson, Steve Gilpen, etc. would attempt to sell their personal mentoring to Trump students at subsequent seminars for several thousands of dollars. Their greed got in the way of performing their job. These individuals would give numerous accounts of their successes and then would say – “don’t you want to work with me”. This is a blatant conflict of interest. An individual should not be permitted to sell their services to individuals who have already paid for the real estate training.”
      I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but I DID NOT offer my coaching services outside of TU while I was contracted with them. I provided those students who worked with me through Trump MORE than what they paid for, including setting up their Marketing , which is something that I specialize in, FREE OF CHARGE. Greed and Conflict of Interest? This paragraph, in relation to ME, Chris Goff, is the very definition of LIBEL. Look it up. You may be hearing that word again some day in a courtroom. I wonder, is this the reason that you are hiding behind anonymity?
      Last, but not least,Three:
      “In my view he has little or no regard for the individuals he has scammed with his business venture.

      The Trump University, now Trump Initiative, only has a hand full of employees who are servicing the remaining contracts and then closing down the entire operation. All of the presenters with the exception of Steve Gilpin are no longer with the organization. All of the presenters support group, like Tiffany Brinkman and Gillian Birnie are gone.”
      Here is where you are FINALLY CORRECT in something. Yes, TU/TI is closing down their operation. All but a skeleton crew are left behind to wrap things up. This began in the summer of 2010. BUT, the closure was NOT due to a large quantity of unhappy students filing a class action lawsuit. Mismanagement within the company led to this, and while the students were not given everything promised as a result, they were NOT the ones to suffer the MOST. If you are interested in finding out the REAL details, you might just be surprised at what you learn.
      AS FOR ME, I stand behind what I taught at Trump University, and will continue to do so.
      Sincerely,
      Chris Goff

  • jf May 18, 2011, 9:18 am

    Here they come. All those who want to ‘blame others’ for their own lack of action. They think someone else is going hand them a magic wand. In reality a down market is the best time to get out there and make lots of offers. Most of the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are people who aren’t out there using the real estate acquisition techniques – or they wouldn’t be playing the violin with a sad story. Today – if they focused – they could be buying properties hand-over-fist just like I did. My experience with the courses was positive – because instead of griping – I did something with the knowledge. What a bunch of self-serving cry-babies.

  • XIVA May 31, 2011, 12:11 pm

    Please call the ofice
    By Phone:
    (US only toll-free) 1-800-449-4900
    (Outside the US) 619-231-1058 in California
    and give your information
    The Lawyer is Rachel Jensen
    No matter which state you are at. They can take your information

  • GM Donohue August 2, 2012, 7:23 pm

    I tried within two days, to recind the agreement with Trump University and I was met with a huge pushback. Why not? They had $25,000 of my money. I realized I’d done the wrong thing, that I could have put that money to better use (like buying gold) and they would not hear of it! I’d love to get that money back. ANY possibility?

  • Jeanne Severe February 4, 2013, 3:00 pm

    Hello,
    My name is Jeanne severe,
    I spent lots of money with trump University Real estate programs, coaching, That promise to help me buy property but did not. Please help me get my money back. I spend a lot
    Jeanne

  • Anthony Todd August 25, 2013, 9:24 am

    Interesting! At JusticeCrowdz.com we support the crowdfunding of legal fees for class actions like this. The method is to grow a large crowd through social media to spread the word and help fund the fight. It’s going to be a hard fought battle, that’s for sure!

  • Delores Lashley August 26, 2013, 8:10 pm

    Please include me in the suit also. I also lost money on his useless classes. Shame on Donald Trump. He needs to confess that this was just one of his schemes.

  • John Marschka September 2, 2013, 11:21 am

    My wife and I are experienced Real Rstate Investors, we bought the program & did the 3 day small group retreat.
    Spent thousands , lost and are still loosing money on our properties from
    Coach & Trumps advise to leverage our properties to pay off credit cards to be able to buy more from Trump.
    They wanted to use our Real Estate experience in a commercial and never followed through on that.
    Our coach Jay became more & more unavailable
    To answer calls & when we talked had no answer for us.
    We believe the Trump organization new about the downturn
    And directed us wrong. We have lost our retirement due to bad coaching .

    • linda September 20, 2013, 2:04 pm

      Hate to break it to you “John Marschka”. But you and your wife cant blame your greediness on this company. You are just lieing, caniving people all around. Due to you and your wife’s pettiness, families are being ruined and on the street because you take their money and rent out foreclosed homes!! Dont blame others for your mistakes. You need the lord in your life becausr the things that you both have done, you bothneed to go to confessio and pray to be forgiven! May GOD have mercy on your souls!

  • Kim Paulette February 28, 2014, 4:36 pm

    My friend and I both paid for Trump University program and also did not get follow up from the promised coach, etc. How do we get included in the class action process?

  • Ron Laurent February 8, 2015, 9:51 pm

    Hi, I paid over the phone with Credit card, got a lot of the run around, never received anything from them and they kept on hitting my account monthly to the point I had to cancel the card. Could not believed that this was a Donald Trump project.
    I was just reading and find out about the class action, would like to know how to get my name in on this.

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