Is it legal for a school prom to change attendance rules after selling hundreds of non-refundable tickets? Students are upset as the new rules require minimal absences and tardies, preventing many from attending. Can parents take legal action against this policy? #schoolprom #ticketrefund #attendancepolicy #legalrights
Where? Public or private?
> Almost everybody can not attend now.
How much is “almost everybody”? 230 out of 240 people?
But this is something for your parents to take up, if need be. Kids can’t sue, and this isn’t enough to sue over. And in theory at least, if someone has a ticket, they should be allowed in, correct? How will the parents at the door know how many tardies you have? (But discuss that with your parents as well.)
That number sounds oddly specific. It sounds like they’re altering the rules to fall in line with state attendance requirements to be eligible to participate in after school activities. I would look into your handbook and see if those numbers do indeed mean that. If they do, then it’s likely they never needed to inform you anyways as it’s already policy and ignorance of a policy is not an excuse as to violating it.
EDIT: the above advice is for insight into what to look up to prepare to approach the school. Because it’s likely what they will tell you. It is NOT saying they are SOL.
You should also gather parents of students at the school to complain about it if you want to make any ground.
There is certainly a cause of action for a lawsuit if the rules were changed after purchase with no option for refund. They are taking money without offering the promised service or a refund.
The dollar amount of damages are pretty low though, but with so many people effected, someone might be willing to take the case
I would suggest getting together a list of all the people effected by the rule change, then contacting some of the more vocally mad parents with that list to bring to an attorney
They might have to shop around to find a lawyer who would take the case, but if you want justice from the school district on this, it’s the only way.
I imagine if the district are contacted by an attorney, they’ll realize their mistake once it’s explained they could be liable, and settle for a refund + the attorneys fees back.
Source: am attorney in Illinois
Definitely complain to the board.
Lawyer but not yours, not legal advice. Sue in small claims court. You all can do it individually. Don’t file on the same day; stagger it so that there are multiple court dates. Perhaps when served with that many complaints inconveniently scheduled they will relent. File fee waiver if you’re a kid with no money.