Vanguard

Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: News

A class action lawsuit has been filed in Mobile County Circuit Court against the owners of The Grove student housing complex at the University of South Alabama.
Several freshmen students were either told by representatives of The Grove or learned from The Grove Web site that they would not be required to purchase a USA meal plan. In fact, all freshmen on campus housing are required to purchase a meal plan through the University. According to Stephen Clements, P.C., the plaintiffs include Kelly McKinnell, Mallory Childers, Carolyn Watts and Melanie Waldrop -- all residents of The Grove and freshmen students at USA.
When Grove representatives told the students that they were not required to purchase a meal plan, they signed the lease agreements. Each of the plaintiffs relied on these statements as true, causing them to spend extra money on meal plans that they were not planning to purchase.
Representatives of The Grove, through The Grove's "Frequently Asked Questions" portion of their Web site, specifically told the freshmen students that they were not required to purchase a meal plan. The representatives explained that all apartments come with a full kitchen, which includes a dishwasher and full size refrigerator. Therefore, the students could prepare their own meals. The Grove also mentioned that there are commuter meal plans on campus if students are interested in purchasing one. The Web site previously said nothing of the meal plan requirement.
More than three months after the last of the Lease Agreements were negotiated, the response on The Grove's "Frequently Asked Questions" portion of their Web site had been altered. It now says that meal plans are offered on campus if students are interested in purchasing one and that any incoming freshman under 24 credit hours is required to purchase a meal plan.
Each of the plaintiffs has paid the sum of $2,230 to USA to pay for a meal plan despite of the representations made by The Grove.
"I was told by a student known as a CA, which is basically an RA, that I would not have to purchase a meal plan," Morgan Rice, USA freshman and resident of The Grove said. "I signed the lease under that pretense, and we were not notified otherwise by The Grove itself. It was rumors and University bills that caused the freshman to finally realize they had been lied to," Rice said.
This specific problem and other continuous issues taking place at The Grove seem to still have students upset, more than two months after its grand opening.
Will Berry, general manager of The Grove, refused to comment on the lawsuit.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools