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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

17. Commitments and Contingencies

Adtalem is subject to lawsuits, administrative proceedings, regulatory reviews, and investigations associated with financial assistance programs and other matters arising in the normal conduct of its business. Adtalem believes it has adequately reserved for potential losses. The following is a description of pending legal and regulatory matters that may be considered other than ordinary, routine, and incidental to the business. Descriptions of certain matters from prior SEC filings may not be carried forward in this report to the extent we believe such matters no longer are required to be disclosed or there has not been, to our knowledge, significant activity relating to them. We have recorded accruals for those matters where management believes a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. For those matters for which we have not recorded an accrual, their possible impact on Adtalem’s business, financial condition, or results of operations, cannot be predicted at this time. The continued defense, resolution, or settlement of any of the following matters could require us to expend significant resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

On April 13, 2018, a putative class action lawsuit was filed by Nicole Versetto, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, against Adtalem, DeVry University Inc., and DeVry/New York Inc. (collectively the “Adtalem Parties”) in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division. The complaint was filed on behalf of herself and three separate classes of similarly situated individuals who were citizens of the State of Illinois and who purchased or paid for a DeVry University program between January 1, 2008 and April 8, 2016. The plaintiff claimed that defendants made false or misleading statements regarding DeVry University’s graduate employment rate and asserts causes of action under the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and Illinois Private Business and Vocational Schools Act, and claims of breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, concealment, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, unjust enrichment, and declaratory relief as to violations of state law. The plaintiff sought compensatory, exemplary, punitive, treble, and statutory penalties and damages, including pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, in addition to restitution, declaratory and injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees. The plaintiff later filed an amended complaint asserting similar claims with a new lead plaintiff, Dave McCormick. After discussions among the parties, the court granted a Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement (the “McCormick Settlement”) on May 28, 2020. As such, we recorded a loss contingency accrual of $44.95 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2020 and charged the contingency loss within discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended June 30, 2020. In conjunction with the McCormick Settlement, Adtalem was required to establish a settlement fund by placing $44.95 million into an escrow account, which was recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The court issued an order approving the McCormick Settlement on October 7, 2020 and dismissed the action with prejudice. On May 4, 2022, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District affirmed the Circuit Court of Cook County’s approval of the McCormick Settlement. The $44.95 million settlement fund was reduced by $8.92 million reflecting an offset of amounts paid to the Settlement Class. The $36.03 million settlement fund is being distributed to the Settlement Class. Adtalem received the $8.92 million return of escrow on July 18, 2023. As a result, the loss contingency accrual and prepaid expense asset associated with the previous escrow balance are no longer outstanding on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023.

On March 12, 2021, Travontae Johnson, a Chamberlain student, filed a putative class action against Chamberlain in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division. The plaintiff claimed that Chamberlain’s use of Respondus Monitor, an online remote proctoring tool for student examinations, violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”), 740 ILCS 14/15. More particularly, the plaintiff claimed that Chamberlain required students to use Respondus Monitor, which collected, captured, stored, used, and disclosed students’ biometric identifiers and biometric information without written and informed consent. The plaintiff also alleged that Chamberlain lacked a legally compliant written policy establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for destroying biometric identifiers and biometric information. The potential class purportedly included all students who took an assessment using the proctoring tool, as a student of Chamberlain in Illinois, at any time from March 12, 2016 through January 20, 2021. The plaintiff and the putative class sought damages in excess of $50,000, attorney’s fees and costs. The plaintiff and class also sought an unspecified amount of enhanced damages based on alleged negligent or reckless conduct by Chamberlain. On July 19, 2021, Chamberlain filed its motion to dismiss the complaint arguing that plaintiff’s lawsuit is expressly preempted by Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. On February 1, 2023, the Court granted Chamberlain’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint. On March 3, 2023, plaintiff filed an appeal. On September 14, 2023, plaintiff’s appeal was dismissed for lack of prosecution. The plaintiff had until October 5, 2023 to file for reconsideration of the dismissal. Plaintiff failed to timely file a motion for reconsideration. This matter is concluded.

On January 12, 2022, Walden was served with a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland by Aljanal Carroll, Claudia Provost Charles, and Tiffany Fair against Walden for damages, injunctive relief, and declaratory relief on behalf of themselves and all other similarly-situated individuals alleging violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Minnesota Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, the Minnesota Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Minnesota statutes prohibiting false statements in advertising, and for common law fraudulent misrepresentation. Plaintiffs allege that Walden has targeted, deceived, and exploited Black and female Doctor of Business Administration (“DBA”) students by knowingly misrepresenting and understating the number of “capstone” credits required to complete the DBA program and obtain a degree. On March 23, 2022, Walden filed a Motion to Dismiss the Plaintiffs’ claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On November 27, 2022, the Court denied Walden’s motion to dismiss the complaint. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint to add an additional plaintiff, Tareion Fluker. Walden answered the amended complaint on February 2, 2023. The parties participated in a non-binding mediation on May 4, 2023 and settlement discussions continued. The parties filed a joint motion to stay

discovery through October 10, 2023 pending the outcome of a second non-binding mediation held on September 21, 2023. At this mediation, the parties agreed on a $28.5 million payment to resolve the issues in the case, subject to agreement on non-financial terms, discussions about which are ongoing. We have recorded a $28.5 million loss contingency accrual for this matter within accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023. If a tentative settlement is reached, it is subject to approval by Adtalem’s Board of Directors and the court.

On June 6, 2022, plaintiff Rajesh Verma filed a lawsuit on behalf of himself and a class of similarly situated individuals in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County Florida, against Walden alleging that Walden was placing telephonic sales calls to persons on the National Do-Not-Call Registry, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227, et seq. Although originally filed in state court, Walden removed the case to federal court and filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint. On August 26, 2022, plaintiff filed a motion to remand Count I of the complaint to state court. On March 2, 2023, plaintiff filed an amended complaint to add a Florida state law claim against Walden under the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act (“FTSA”). On March 16, 2023, Walden filed its answer to the amended complaint. On March 29, 2023, Walden’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint and plaintiff’s motion to remand Count I of the complaint were denied. A non-binding mediation was held on September 18, 2023. The parties reached a settlement for an immaterial amount, subject to Court approval.

As previously disclosed, pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) by and between Adtalem and Cogswell, dated as of December 4, 2017, as amended, Adtalem sold DeVry University to Cogswell and Adtalem agreed to indemnify DeVry University for certain losses up to $340.0 million (the “Liability Cap”). Adtalem has previously disclosed DeVry University related matters that have consumed a portion of the Liability Cap.