US
Federal judge, Gonzalo Curiel on Thursday in San Diego, California, largely
sided with plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit against President-elect
Donald Trump over the defunct Trump University.
The case is scheduled to go to trial later this month and Trump
is expected to testify in his own defence against allegations that Trump
University for-profit business seminars were a hoax and hundreds of individuals
were charged large sums of money for courses that were essentially worthless.
Curiel ruled against Trump’s legal team seeking to ban testimony
relating to Trump’s conduct during the presidential campaign.
Curiel also ruled against Trump’s request to ban testimony about
Trump University’s “F” rating by the Better Business Bureau and the fact that
it has since gone bankrupt.
He also denied a request by Trump’s lawyers to ban
discussion of the financial condition of students, many of whom
described themselves as poor, and what impact the seminar fees had on their lives.
Trump’s lawyers argued testimony about the presidential
campaign, and testimony about the other elements of the case are irrelevant and
would serve to color the jury’s opinion of Trump and his business venture.
Curiel ruled in favor of allowing Trump’s defense team to call
students who would tell “success stories” about how the courses improved their
understanding of business and real estate.
Trump has steadfastly defended Trump University as a worthwhile
investment for participants. The courses promised to offer students inside
information on how he built his business.
In a technical ruling, Curiel found insufficient evidence or
supporting case law to warrant granting Trump’s other requests, though he said
Trump’s lawyers could object to individual pieces of testimony during the
trial.
The trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 28.
Source: pmnews
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