Erik Perez Featured on NBC Tampa (WFLA) Discussing COVID-Era College Refund Lawsuit Before Florida Supreme Court

Full Story:

Read the full NBC Tampa (WFLA) article here:
Florida COVID college refund lawsuit continues in the New Year

View Video

Erik Perez, a civil litigation and appellate attorney at Perez Mayoral, P.A., was recently interviewed by NBC Tampa affiliate WFLA News Channel 8 regarding a pending lawsuit before the Florida Supreme Court over tuition and fee refunds related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The case centers on Anthony Rojas, a former graduate student at the University of Florida, who is seeking reimbursement for fees he paid for in-person services that were suspended when the university shifted to remote learning in 2020. Although many similar cases across the country have been dismissed, this lawsuit remains unresolved as the Florida Supreme Court reviews the matter.

In his interview with NBC Tampa, Perez acknowledged the creative nature of the student’s legal argument but questioned its viability:

“It’s an interesting lawsuit—there’s many similar ones that have been filed across the country and even in the state of Florida,” Perez said.

“Arguments made by the student are certainly creative and persuasive, but based off of the law that applies, I would say it’s unlikely to prevail.”

The student argues he should have been charged only what online students typically pay, rather than full campus-based fees for services like the recreation center and other facilities that were unavailable during the lockdown. The 1st District Court of Appeal previously dismissed the case, citing sovereign immunity, which shields public institutions from certain lawsuits.

Perez noted that while the fairness of the situation is debatable, legal precedent is not in the student’s favor:

“This case asks a bigger question: who bears the burden of the pandemic’s disruption—students or institutions?”

The Florida Supreme Court has not announced a timeline for its decision, but a ruling could be issued by June 2025.