Ravi v. US: Fake University Lawsuit Revived

Ravi v. US

"Starting in March 2018, Ravi Teja Tiyagurra paid thousands of dollars to the “University of Farmington” to enroll as a student, expecting to take classes. At the time of his enrollment, Mr. Ravi was unaware that the University was not a university at all but had been formed and advertised to offer educational services for money—though not actually provide them—as an undercover operation of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to target fraud involving student visas. The government’s operation eventually came to light, but the government neither provided the paid-for education nor gave Mr. Ravi his money back. Mr. Ravi brought an action in the United States Court of Federal Claims (Claims Court) against the United States, alleging a breach of contract and an accompanying breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The government moved to dismiss the action for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction under the Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1491, and for a failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or, in the alternative, for summary judgment. The Claims Court ultimately dismissed the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, without reaching other issues. Ravi v. United States, 158 Fed. Cl. 775, 778 (2022) (Claims Court Decision). On appeal, we reverse the Claims Court’s dismissal and remand for further proceedings."

[Hats off to Anna Nathanson and Amy Norris!]