The initial lawsuit, filed publicly by eight students in Waterbury state court on May 3, 2023, alleged violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by the school, its owners, and CEO Gary Evans. The complaint accused the school of enrolling students shortly before its closure, misleading students about its viability, and disregarding state regulators’ warnings about substandard programs.
In a separate suit filed on July 13, 2023, the state accused Stone Academy and one of its owners, Joseph Bierbaum, of multiple CUTPA violations. That case was later consolidated in Waterbury.
The students had initially sought a $20 million prejudgment remedy, which the state mirrored with a similar $10 million placeholder for potential settlement or court awards.
On December 26, 2023, the students filed a federal lawsuit against Connecticut’s higher education and health commissioners, alleging violations of due process by retroactively invalidating earned credits and refusing to license graduates.
