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WVU Class of 2008 Possible Class-Action Lawsuit

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Posted: 1:32 PM May 16, 2008
Last Updated: 1:36 PM May 16, 2008
Reporter: Amanda Barren
Email Address: Amanda.Barren@wsaz.com

22 comments

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Charleston, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Charleston law firm is looking into the possibility of a class-action lawsuit after the Heather Bresch Degree scandal.

Greg Chiartas is a WVU Law Grad himself. He says he can't imagine how the students and parents must feel going into graduation this weekend.

An independent panel determined the Governor's Daughter, Heather Bresch didn't earn the degree she received.

Chiartas says his law firm, Freeman and Chiartas received three phone calls about possibly filing suit. So they put an ad in the paper to see how much interest was really out there. It's only been a day and they've had about a dozen calls.

"One person for example was looking to go to grad school and somebody in the admissions office made a snide remark about the degree from WVU," Chiartas told wsaz.com.

He adds, this isn't about money, it's about restoring integrity to his alma matter.

"Here is an offer I will make it right here. We've decided if this is a class-action lawsuit, if the University- the Board of Governors will take the appropriate measures and replaces Mike Garrison we will donate our fee, whatever it is to the WVU Foundation."

WSAZ.com will keep checking to see if a class-action suit is filed.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: donna on May 30, 2008 at 06:53 PM
who won the AA baseball championship..... and what was the score.....

Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 04:27 PM
This is what is wrong with our legal system - lawyers like this...Go chase an ambulance, fall on the sidewalk, or better yet, just sue anyone for any reason. You are pathetic! It's not the school's fault that the administration is corrupt at the top. Students should be proud of their education and the amount of work they put into obtaining their degrees. What do you think you can get from this ??? a waste of someone's time (and money)! To the Attorney in this case - take your own diploma off the wall in your office, look at it, and figure out how you can give back your education to society rather than scamming people of all levels.

Posted by: booger on May 19, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Hey bob, how did some girl cheat and get a law degree from Marshall? Funny how WVU people always seem to throw Marshall into the argument for no reason....

Posted by: booger on May 18, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Larkin... People all over the country are laughing at WVU, and have been for months. And who cares what movie you like. You just didn't like it because Carrot Top wasn't in it.

Posted by: WVU 2008 Graduate on May 17, 2008 at 11:27 PM
This is RIDICULOUS. I graduated today, am very proud to have received a degree from WVU. It is in no way devalued because of the eMBA issue- its pointless and stupid to say that it is. The faculty and alumni who continue to use this as an excuse to get rid of Garrison are hurting the University more than the eMBA thing ever has and ever will. We all need to come together, support the University, and move forward. Please, I implore everyone out there to stop these attacks on Garrison- they are doing way more harm than good. Lets move on. The most ridiculous issue here is that a degree that may or may not have been earned 10 years ago is being given more coverage than all of the degrees that were earned today. We all worked very hard to graduate, and it is insulting to me and other students that people care more about Heather Bresch's situation from 10 years ago than all of the great accomplishments of this year's graduating class.

Posted by: Larken on May 17, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Laney, Marshall is a bigger joke around the country. You base your opinion that all the citizens Morgantown are cheaters because one renegade dean gave a degree away? A little extreme if you ask me. We are Marshall wasn't a very good movie. I gave it 1 star out of 5.

Posted by: mark on May 17, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Still haven't heard the grounds for a suit??? Anyone with a clue???

Posted by: RoaneCo. on May 17, 2008 at 05:21 PM
What does the class of 2008 have to do with the Bresch thing? What do they want to gain by a class action lawsuit? Can I sue ex-coach Rod for leaving? Can I sue WVU for making me donate $100.00 just to get my season tickets? How can you call it a donation when they force you to give. Is a mandatory donation legal? Maybe they should just call it the Danny Jones plan!

Posted by: Beth on May 17, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Sure the WVU officials should take the responsibility for this. But what about Ms. Bresch? What about Gov. Manchin? She had to know that she didn't earn that degree and I am sure that Gov. Manchin knew as well. I have an MBA from Marhall, and to think that someone was able to advance their career based on an "educational lie" is sickening. Most employers would fire someone who has lied on their employment application, and that is basically what has happened here. Ms. Bresch's employer should fire her and the Governor should take much more of the heat on this--he knew--and did nothing.

Posted by: Trixie on May 17, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I believe there should be something done, If not everyone is going to want the same thing and it isn't fair to everyone who really does try..

Posted by: J on May 17, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Sloan, you have obviously been drinking Ole Joe's Koolaid. The documents were fabricated to make it appear like the degree was earned in 1998. This mess happened last fall.

Posted by: Sloan on May 17, 2008 at 01:29 AM
It's obvious that no one has even read about the facts of the situation. The degree was from 1998 why would the class of 2008 be griping?

Posted by: Bob on May 16, 2008 at 10:32 PM
What is bad is when the teacher's know that there is a cheater in the class and go ahead and let her graduate with the Marshall Law Class. This girl stoled test and other papers out of the mail box at the college and was seen of tape and nothing done, the Dr.'s and Deans of Marshall did nothing to her gave her the degree and that was the end. Now i can't get a job because she tells people i was the cheater and that is a lie and she knows it and so does MARSHALL it's a joke and there's nothing i can do, if someone knows please let me know.I have a degree and everybody thinks i am the cheater God knows it was not me.

Posted by: Doug on May 16, 2008 at 09:25 PM
This is just one example of unqualified appointments that has been made by this politically arrogant administration. Talking about unqualified and unethical, look at what has been done in the DOH too ! !. Here are forces at work that rivalis the stories of Armageddon.. This is no joke, it's here and we have got it. This state has got to be informed of the facts and get the people out to vote for Russ Weeks.. We have hit rock bottom.

Posted by: LANEY on May 16, 2008 at 05:03 PM
football coach basketball coach govenors daughter What exactly is going on in Morgantown? Who wants to be associated with these CHEATERS? They have burning couches down to an art,and alumni crooks in the NFL. ATTENTION IF YOU WANT AN EDUCATION THAT IS WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON, "WE ARE MARSHALL"

Posted by: gene on May 16, 2008 at 04:08 PM
heather bresch's degree should be taken back since she lied and did not honestly work for it.

Posted by: Bill on May 16, 2008 at 04:02 PM
This is one law suit I would love to see! WVU should get hit where it hurts, in the wallet!...Integrity and reputation obviously means nothing to Garrison.

Posted by: Carrie on May 16, 2008 at 03:54 PM
People will sue over anything. Yes this was a silly thing to happen but for people to jump on the band wagon to want to file lawsuit. This man says it's not about money, yeah right! These 12 people wouldn't be complaining about anything if they didn't think that it would make their pockets a little bigger. Did you people ever think that if you filed a large suit against WVU and win that it may raise tuition costs? Get a life people and stop looking for a handout.

Posted by: Billy Keen on May 16, 2008 at 02:56 PM
I wish folks would leave this along, If I didnt know better I would think Delegat Kessler was behind this whole mess, and that's just not right

Posted by: Mark on May 16, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Class action suit on what grounds??? Sounds like ambulance chasing!

Posted by: Charleston Man on May 16, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Is there any question left that WV is the worst state in the nation?

Posted by: Michelle on May 16, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Prime example of what is wrong with this country....it is way too lawsuit happy! Anything is fair game for a suit. We need legal reform!

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