Legal Question in Education Law in Wisconsin

Church suing for school's tuition given for free

A friend has been served papers to pay school tuition from a Catholic Church that offered to the mother of a child, free tuition based on her being a single parent with little income. There was no written contract stating free tuition, only a verbal statement - ''Don't worry about.'' Does the Church have a case against the mother. Any precedence? Should she opt for an attorney?


Asked on 4/26/09, 10:30 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Harrell W. Andrew Harrell, Attorney at Law

Re: Church suing for school's tuition given for free

I'm assuming that the "papers" are a civil complaint filed by the school in your local court to recover the tuition? If so, your friend can argue in court that there was a verbal agreement to waive tuition. Your friend may wish to find out if this private school has waived tuition for other low income parents. If so, this would support her arguments. Your friend would need to show that she has "changed her position" based on her reliance on this agreement. E.g., foregoing other schools for her child, altering her work schedule to accommodate the school, making babysitting arrangements, etc. Good luck.

Read more
Answered on 4/26/09, 11:16 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Education Law questions and answers in Wisconsin