A federal class-action lawsuit has been filed by former students of a for-profit nursing school in Connecticut against state officials, alleging that their actions and defamatory statements have hindered the students' training and careers. The lawsuit, representing over 1,200 former Stone Academy students, focuses on the state's conduct following the abrupt closure of the school in February. The students argue that their constitutional rights have been violated as they have been deprived of property rights to earned academic credits.

Attorney David A. Slossberg, part of the legal team representing the students, expressed that the students are "literally stuck." Following the closure of the school's three campuses, a state audit retroactively declared thousands of credit hours invalid. Slossberg argues that state officials did not have the authority to take such action and calls them “rogue” agencies who have multiplied the harm to the hard-working students.

The plaintiffs also claim that their "liberty rights to their good name, reputation, honor, and integrity" have been violated by state officials. They argue that they have been stigmatized and are unable to transfer any credits, audited or otherwise, to other nursing schools in Connecticut due to being seen as ill-prepared to practice as practical nurses.

Slossberg, along with attorneys Kristen L. Zaehringer, Erica O. Nolan, and Timothy C. Cowan, are working on the case and believe those in positions of trust have failed the students. The lawsuit names the commissioners of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education and Connecticut Department of Public Health, as well as two other state officials, as defendants. This lawsuit follows a previous one filed by the students in May against Stone Academy's parent company, the academy's part-owner, and others. A judge recently ruled that at least $5 million must be set aside for the students.

In July, the state of Connecticut sued the for-profit nursing school, accusing it of aggressively recruiting students through marketing tactics, particularly targeting Black and Hispanic women. These students took out loans and used their life savings to pay the tuition and other costs, which amounted to over $30,000, with the goal of becoming licensed practical nurses. Attorney General William Tong stated that the school failed to provide an adequate education, leaving the students ineligible to take licensing exams and obtain state nursing licenses. Tong also alleged that nearly $1 million per year was redirected from Stone Academy to another school, to the detriment of Stone Academy students. The state's lawsuit seeks restitution for the students and penalties for alleged violations of unfair trade practices laws.

Stone Academy, in response to the state's lawsuit, called it baseless and attributed the school's closure to the actions of other state agencies. When asked about the lawsuit filed by the students against state officials, Attorney General William Tong's office stated that they are reviewing the lawsuit and will continue to hold Stone Academy and its owners accountable for their decisions, which have cost the students years of time and money.

Central to the lawsuit is the contention that the state of Connecticut lacked the authority to invalidate the earned academic credits of the students.