Looking to sue Capella University? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like Capella University. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…
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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from Capella University? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?
You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the Capella University customer service options, but still feel unheard.
There are different ways to file a complaint against Capella University, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.
So, if you’re thinking of suing Capella University, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.
What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like Capella University to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.
But here’s the thing: your Capella University contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.
Here’s what you can do…
To find out if you can take Capella University to arbitration, you can check your contract or user agreement with them. Many companies’ standard contract are available on their websites. You can do a search for “arbitration” arbitration within the contract text — it is usually mentioned near the very top of a contract.
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
Taking Capella University to Small Claims Court will typically involve appearing in person and completing necessary forms.
If you’re ready to sue Capella University in Small Claims Court, read on below:
If you are ready to sue Capella University you have to make sure that your case qualifies for small claims court. This is a specific type of court and they only take on certain cases. There are two factors you have to look out for:
The type of compensation. The first is the type of compensation you ask for it. While in most courts you can ask for things like monetary compensation or a dollar amount, or equitable compensation which is any non-monetary item, when you sue Capella University in small claims court you can usually only ask for a dollar amount. This just means that any equitable items on your list have to be converted into their dollar value.
The amount of compensation. That dollar value however comes with limits. Every small claims court has a state-enforced maximum limit for how much you can ask in compensation. That can be as little as $2,500 and some states but in most states it’s either $5,000 or $10,000. You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.
With that out of the way the next step is to send to your demand letter. Small claims courts require that you ask the company to fix the problem on their own before you sue Capella University in small claims court. The whole point is to make sure that you have done everything you can do to try and resolve the problem before you take up state resources.
This has to be completed in accordance with your state requirements but it doesn’t have to be a complicated letter. All you have to do is write to the company and explain who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from them. No more than a few sentences.
When you are done writing the letter, mail a hard copy to the company at their official legal address through certified mail or some other form of mail where you can track and confirm the letter was received. According to our most recent research, Capella University is legally based in Maryland and receives mail at this address:
STRATEGIC EDUCATION, INC.
C/O THE CORPORATION TRUST, INCORPORATED
2405 YORK ROAD
SUITE 201
LUTHERVILLE TIMONIUM MD 21093-2264
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.
If you didn’t get a response to this letter and the company made no attempt to fix the issue, now you sue Capella University in small claims court. This begins with the court forms. Every state has different forms you have to fill out and some counties will add forms. 
All the forms should be freely available on your state court website. Find your state court website here.
While on your court website check how many copies you need under the instructions. Most states require three or four copies in order to sue Capella University in small claims court and if you don’t have the right copies, they won’t accept your case.
Now you file your forms officially with the court. This is a legal process with its own requirements you must follow. 
Most courts will require that you physically visit the courthouse to hand deliver your forms in order to sue Capella University in small claims court. Some states will allow mail, fax, or online too, but not many.
You will have to pay the court filing fee, after which the clerk will take the forms, give you back your stamped copies, and assign a court date.
To sue Capella University in small claims court you now have to let them know you’ve filed paperwork. This is a step called “serving” and it has its own unique rules which must be followed.
You can look up those rules on your court website or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”.
Be sure to follow each rule, no matter how odd it seems otherwise the court might throw out your case with no compensation.
The final step is to go to court for your hearing. Bring with you the copy of the forms you filed with the clerk and any other evidence you have showing why you decided to sue Capella University in small claims court and why the judge should grant you compensation.
The company may or may not send someone to oppose you so you might be there alone but in any situation your goal is to explain to the judge why your case was warranted.
Ready to sue Capella University in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…
Get justice when a business lets you down:
FairShake’s Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
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