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California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on Wednesday announced that her office has obtained a $1.1 billion judgment against defunct Corinthian Colleges Inc. (CCI) for its predatory and unlawful practices.
While CCI filed for bankruptcy in May 2015, this judgment can help secure further relief for struggling students.
Former Corinthian students should visit the Attorney General’s Interactive Tool, https://oag.ca.gov/corinthian , for tailored information to help them locate needed resources and relief.
In October 2013, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris led the charge against CCI and its subsidiaries that operate Everest, Heald, and Wyotech colleges, filing suit seeking to put an end to abusive practices that left tens of thousands of students under a mountain of debt and useless degrees. CCI filed for bankruptcy in May 2015.
On Wednesday, the court granted a default judgment against CCI. In the judgment, the court ordered restitution on behalf of students in the amount of $820,000,000 and civil penalties totaling $350,025,000, for a total of $1,170,025,000 in monetary relief.
“For years, Corinthian profited off the backs of poor people – now they have to pay. This judgment sends a clear message: there is a cost to this kind of predatory conduct,” said Attorney General Harris. “My office will continue to do everything in our power to help these vulnerable students obtain all available relief, as they work to achieve their academic and professional goals.”
Attorney General Harris’ original complaint alleged that CCI intentionally targeted low-income, vulnerable Californians through deceptive and false advertisements and aggressive marketing campaigns that misrepresented job placement rates and school programs.
CCI deployed these advertisements through persistent Internet, telemarketing and television ad campaigns.
The complaint further alleged that Corinthian executives knowingly misrepresented job placement rates to investors and accrediting agencies, which harmed students, investors and taxpayers.
The attorney general filed many of these documents in court before entry of the court’s judgment, and they are now publicly available.
In the final judgment, the court found, among other things, that:
– From at least 2009 until the closure of its schools, many of CCI’s representations and advertisements related to job placement were untrue and/or misleading. In numerous cases, the placement rate data in CCI’s files show that the actual placement rate is lower than the advertised rate. The placement rates that CCI published were systematically false, misleading, erroneous and/or failed to comply with applicable state and federal regulations and/or accreditor standards. In addition, many of these published placement rates could not be substantiated using CCI’s own internal placement data and files.
– CCI did not offer ultrasound technician programs, x-ray technician programs, radiology technician programs, or dialysis technician programs in California. Despite this fact, from at least 2010 until the filing of this action, CCI ran millions of ads stating that they did offer those programs. CCI executives knew that these false ads misled students.
– CCI unlawfully used the official seals of the United States Department of the Army, the United States Department of the Navy, the United States Department of the Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Coast Guard.
– CCI’s enrollment agreements contained unlawful clauses.
– CCI engaged in unlawful debt collection.
– CCI failed to discloses its role in the Genesis Private Student Loan Program.
– CCI misrepresented the transferability of credits.
– CCI misrepresented its financial stability to students.
In April 2015, Attorney General Harris and eight other state Attorneys General sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging immediate debt relief for the students who attended Heald College and other CCI campuses.
In May 2015, Attorney General Harris sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, asking the Department to exercise its authority under closed school discharge regulations to provide aid to students affected by Corinthian’s predatory practices.
In June 2015, after calls from Attorney General Harris for substantive relief for students suffering from crippling debt, the U.S. Department of Education announced expanded debt relief options for Corinthian students, which resulted in many more students being eligible for relief.
Attorney General Harris remains committed to protecting vulnerable students, most recently through the Department of Education’s negotiated rulemaking sessions on borrower defense, where Attorney General Harris called for revisions to proposed borrower defense regulations to ensure meaningful debt relief for students misled by predatory for-profit colleges.
032316 Corinthian College final judgment.pdf
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Upper Lake Unified School District Board voted unanimously on Tuesday evening to hire the next principal of Upper Lake Elementary School.
Lakeport resident Stephanie Wayment, currently serving as the Educational Resources and Accountability director at the Lake County Office of Education, received full board support during the vote, held toward the end of the meeting.
Wayment holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies as well as a multiple subject teaching credential and an administrative credential from Sonoma State University, and has a master's degree in education focusing on curriculum, instruction and assessment from Walden University in Baltimore.
She has extensive administrative experience, has taught in K-8 education in the Lakeport and Konocti school districts, and also has taught at the university level at Sonoma State and Dominican University.
In addition, Wayment is a founding member of the Literacy Task Force, has directed the Imagination Library effort, was involved in organizing the Lake County Mock Trial competition, is fluent in Spanish, and has created activities and programs to help Hispanic students prepare for college.
Wayment's hire becomes effective on July 1, the day after the separate elementary and high school districts formally end in order to be combined into the new unified district.
Wayment emerged as the top candidate from a field of applicants that included primarily Lake County residents as well as one person from Michigan, according to district officials.
She will succeed Valerie Gardner, the principal/superintendent of the Upper Lake Union Elementary School, who is retiring this summer.
Unlike Gardner, Wayment will be principal only, and will not have to fulfill the second role as superintendent. The district's interim superintendent is Patrick Iaccino, who also is principal/superintendent for the soon-to-be-dissolved Upper Lake Union High School District.
After the vote, Gardner – seated in the audience behind Wayment – reached over and patted her shoulder.
“You just made a great decision,” district Business Manager Sue Milhaupt told the board.
Iaccino congratulated Wayment and welcomed her to the district.
Iaccino told the board that Gardner chaired the selection committee, which included elementary school parents, teachers and classified staff.
“It wasn't easy,” he said of the selection process.
Wayment told the board and district officials, “I am super excited to be here.”
Iaccino said he will meet with the new district's three school principals – Wayment for the elementary school, Don Boyd for the Middle School and Sandy Coatney for the high school – for the first time as a group on Wednesday.
The board appointed Boyd and Coatney to those principal positions on March 8, as Lake County News has reported.
Gardner said she is working with the Lake County Office of Education to arrange to have Wayment begin spending a few days a week at the district beginning in April in preparation for taking over this summer.
“She's looking very hard at her calendar trying to figure out how to do it all,” said Gardner.
During the meeting board members congratulated Wayment. Board member Keith Austin said he liked her professionalism and her approach to learning.
In other board action on Tuesday, the board heard presentations from consultants on education management and facilities planning, and got an update from district staffer Clarinda Higgins focusing on special education.
The board also held a brief public hearing on sunshine contract openers for employee unions and approved the proposed 2016-17 school calendar, with starting and ending dates of Aug. 10 and May 26, respectively.
With the district and employees unions still to finalize contracts, Iaccino said the school calendar might end up being brought back for further consideration at a future time as part of negotiations.
The board also unanimously approved exchanging its twice-monthly meeting schedule for one meeting per month.
Starting in April, the board will begin meeting at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday, with the Upper Lake High School Library remaining the meeting location. The date of the next meeting is April 12.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Vector Control District has rescheduled a mosquito larvicide treatment.
The treatment, originally set for Wednesday, March 23, will now take place on Thursday, March 24, according to District Manager Jamie Scott.
Scott said the treatment is expected to begin at 10 a.m., weather permitting.
The district said the treatment – meant to reduce the number of biting adult mosquitoes emerging this spring – will take place at the marshlands adjacent to the lake between the Clear Lake State Park and Lakeport, parts of Anderson Marsh State Park and a small section east of the Clearlake Keys.
It's in those areas that the district’s winter mosquito surveillance program detected large numbers of mosquito larvae for an early-season floodwater species (Aedes increpitus) that hatch from eggs laid in the mud in previous years as the lake receded.
When winter rains flooded the eggs, the larvae hatched and began developing in the still, shallow water.
As temperatures and day length increase in early spring, the Ae. increpitus mosquito larvae will pupate and then emerge as biting adults.
These mosquitoes are the aggressive biters experienced every spring by people living and recreating near this area.
The application will be made by a yellow, bi-winged crop duster flying at a low altitude over these marshy areas.
Some of the marshy areas are near homes, and people may experience a brief noise nuisance from the plane.
The product applied will be VectoBac GS, a biological larvicide used to control mosquito larvae in aquatic habitats.
VectoBac, manufactured by Valent BioSciences, is based on the naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). The district said it is a highly effective and economical microbial insecticide registered with the Environmental Protection Agency for the control of larval mosquitoes in nearly all aquatic habitats.
Bti is highly selective for the control of mosquito larvae in water and does not affect plants, animals or beneficial insects that live in or drink the water.
The formulation is a biodegradable solid corncob granule, similar to large sand particles, which are coated with the Bti, which breaks down rapidly in nature so there is no persistence of the active ingredient. The use of a solid formulation reduces the drift onto adjacent property.
The Lake County Vector Control District makes every effort to use the safest product available to minimize any health concerns the public may have.
The larvicide label and the safety data sheet are available from the Lake County Vector Control District’s Web site http://www.lcvcd.org/ or may be requested by calling 707-263-4770.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Five handsome dogs are waiting at Clearlake Animal Control this week for new homes.
The dogs include mixes of American Staffordshire Terrier, dachshund, German Shepherd, hound, Labrador Retriever and pit bull.
To meet the dogs, contact Marcia Taylor, the animal control outreach technician, at 707-994-8201, Extension 103, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or contact Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller at Extension 115 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. those same days.
Also follow Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook for the latest updates.
'Brutas'
“Brutas” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier and pit bull mix with a short mottled brown coat.
Shelter staff said Brutas gets along with everyone.
He needs some leash training but has lots of love to give.
'Coco'
“Coco” is a female chocolate Labrador Retriever and hound mix.
Coco lost her family after her owner died. She was passed to another family but kept jumping the 4-foot gate.
Shelter staff said she is everything a Labrador Retriever should be: She loves people and kids, and gets along well with other dogs.
'Doc'
“Doc” is a male dachshund.
He has a blue and tan coat.
Shelter staff said he gets along with others and is a big sweetheart. He also loves to go on walks and car rides.
He is neutered and fully vaccinated.
'Kuno'
“Kuno” is an 8-month-old male German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix with the traditional black and tan coat.
He likes everyone, however, shelter staff said he would do best as an only pet.
He is reported to be smart and easily trained.
Kuno loves to go for walks or for a jog, and would thrive in a family that would give him the love he craves.
'Lady'
“Lady” is a female pit bull terrier mix.
She has a short tan coat with white markings.
Shelter staff said Lady loves attention and enjoys going for walks.
She likes to play and will make a good companion, shelter staff reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Habitat for Humanity Lake County is looking for community members eligible for its homeownership program.
If you are member of a low-income family seeking the opportunity to own your own home or a low-income family who lost its home in the Lake County fires, or a renter displaced by the fires who is now in need of a home, Habitat for Humanity Lake County might be able to assist you.
The homeownership program of Habitat for Humanity Lake County is actively seeking qualified candidates.
Applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Military veterans are encouraged to apply and family need is always the top consideration.
For a prequalification application visit Habitat for Humanity’s Web site at www.lakehabitat.org , call the office at 707-994-1100, or come by 16285A Main St. in Lower Lake.
Once the pre-application is received, candidates will be contacted by a Habitat for Humanity representative for a family interview and provided with a complete application.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County community is invited to participate in the Lake County Library’s Book-to-Action series of events, featuring the book “The Oral History Workshop” by Cynthia Hart and Lisa Samson, to be held during April at several locations around Lake County.
The Lake County Library and the Lake County Museums are collaborating to produce this Book-to-Action series, which grew out of the realization following the county’s “Summer of Fire” that many people have stories to tell.
“Although perhaps a cliché, it is true that history happens every day,” said Lake County Museum Curator Tony Pierucci. “The fires that Lake County survived last year left an indelible mark on our community and it is important that we begin the process of preserving the oral history.”
Fire survivors may be looking for a way to record their stories. People interested in conducting interviews may not know how to help with that process.
An oral history project may seem intimidating if one isn’t sure about how to do it. Book-to-Action will bring together people in both categories and help them conduct interviews.
The Oral History Workshop breaks down an oral history project into a series of easily-managed tasks so even beginners can start their own projects.
More than a how-to manual, the book is also a why-to-do-it guide. Author Cynthia Hart drew on her own family’s history for stories that illustrate why oral history is important.
All Book-to-Action events are free and no registration is required to attend an event. Participants will volunteer their time to conduct interviews once they’re trained. Call 707-263-8817 for more information.
Copies of “The Oral History Workshop” are free and available at all Lake County Library branches and both Lake County Museums in April as long as supplies last. Come to any branch to get a book and a schedule of events.
Library branches are located at 1425 N. High St. in Lakeport, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake, 21256 Washington St. in Middletown and 310 Second St. in Upper Lake.
The Lake County Museums are the Historic Courthouse Museum located at 255 N. Main St. in Lakeport and the Schoolhouse Museum at 16435 Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake.
The Book-to-Action program is a variation on the traditional library book group – it offers participants not only the opportunity to collectively read and discuss a book, but also to put their newfound knowledge into action by engaging in a community service project or activity related to the book's topic.
Book-to-Action is a project of the California State Library in partnership with the California Center for the Book, and it is being implemented in libraries throughout the State.
The project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Join local residents to discuss The Oral History Workshop, which explains how to open the door to memories and record those vivid stories for future generations. Share with other readers your favorite aspects of the book, and pose questions you'd like to discuss. Get ideas about how you can get involved in volunteer oral history projects in Lake County.
Events will include workshops and book discussion where participants will learn how to do oral history and then record oral history interviews. Other events will feature people telling their Valley Fire stories.
Book-to-Action culminates in a five-hour recording session on April 23 at the Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake.
The full calendar of events is available at all Lake County Library branches and both Lake County Museums, and is posted on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov .
People who have stories to tell can contact the Lake County Library at 707-263-8817 if they want to be interviewed or to share their stories about the recent fires. They will be matched with trained interviewers to record their stories.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary . The Lake County Museums are on the Internet at http://museums.lakecountyca.gov .
Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.