Several students who were enrolled in the Oregon Career and Technology Center filed a lawsuit against the Oregon City Schools district for breach of contract, negligence and fraud in the Court of Common Pleas of Lucas County on Dec. 18.

The students, who were taking a Green Energy, Electrical & Environmental Specialist Program at the Center, allege that the program failed to live up to its promise to prepare them to work in the renewable energy industry.

The defendants are identified in the lawsuit as “John Does” who are administrators, employees and/or agents of the Oregon City Schools doing business as the Oregon Career & Technology Center.

The defendants, alleges the lawsuit: promised several hours of instruction in various subjects related to the renewable energy industry; represented in a student handbook “certain mission statements, statements of historical facts, policies, rules, regulations, objectives, accreditations, and accomplishments”; provided students a daily calendar for the program, “setting forth certain class schedule representations”; and made representations to entice students to enroll in the Green Energy, Electrical & Environmental Specialist Program.

The defendants, alleges the lawsuit, “knew that the representations set forth were untrue and or misleading…”  The defendants, alleges the lawsuit, did not “advise enrolling or current students” they could not fulfill the promises made by these representations.

The defendants “failed to provide to the plaintiffs the promised goods and services, thereby unjustly enriching” themselves, states the lawsuit.

The students are suing the district in excess of $25,000 with interest, costs and attorney fees for breach of contract, negligence, and fraud. They are also seeking damages from the defendants for allegedly violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act, including interest, costs and attorney fees. In addition, the students want to be reimbursed for their tuition.

The students are being represented by lawyer John S. Spore, of Spore & Associates, of Perrysburg.

Oregon Schools Superintendent Mike Zalar said that the green energy program is a new adult education course designed to train workers in the emerging field of renewable energy.

“It is unfortunate that our effort to provide training in this cutting edge industry was not deemed acceptable by some students,” said Zalar. “While the district has attempted to address complaints brought forth by these individuals, it has received notice of the lawsuit. Due to the legal nature, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

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