This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38021820

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Trump University lawsuit nears $25m payout Trump settles Trump University lawsuits for $25m
(about 2 hours later)
Donald Trump is nearing settlements in several fraud lawsuits relating to Trump University, the BBC has learned. Donald Trump has settled three Trump University lawsuits for $25m (£20m), the New York Attorney General has said.
The US president-elect is being sued by former students who paid $35,000 (£28,000) for real estate "secrets" from his "hand-picked" instructors. The US president-elect was being sued by former students who paid $35,000 (£28,000) for real estate "secrets" from his "hand-picked" instructors.
Mr Trump was criticised as a candidate for saying that the California judge hearing the case could not be impartial because he is of Mexican heritage. Mr Trump had repeatedly said he would not settle the class-action lawsuits.
The businessman faces three fraud lawsuits in California and New York. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the settlement was a "stunning reversal" by Mr Trump and a "major victory" for victims.
A trial in one of the cases is due to begin in San Diego on 28 November. The businessman faced three fraud lawsuits in California and New York.
A spokesperson for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the attorney general "has always been open to a settlement that fairly compensates the many victims of Trump University who have been waiting years for a resolution". A trial in one of the cases had been due to begin in San Diego on 28 November, although Mr Trump's lawyers had attempted to delay the case.
Mr Schneiderman had sought a $40m (£32m) payout from Mr Trump over the university, which closed in 2010. During the election campaign, Mr Trump was criticised for saying that the California judge hearing the case could not be impartial because he is of Mexican heritage.
He called Trump University a "fraud from beginning to end" this past July, adding that the organisation used "false promises to prey on desperate people". Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement: "Today's $25 million [£20m] settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university.
A source familiar with the discussions told the BBC on Friday the settlement, which would finalise all three cases, could cost Mr Trump as much as $25m (£20m). "The victims of Trump University have waited years for today's result and I am pleased that their patience - and persistence - will be rewarded by this $25 million settlement."
US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over the two California cases, has urged both sides to settle out of court. Mr Schneiderman, who Mr Trump has attacked as a "lightweight", had sought a $40m (£32m) payout from Mr Trump over the university, which closed in 2010.
He called Trump University a "fraud from beginning to end" in July, adding that the organisation used "false promises to prey on desperate people".
US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over the two California cases, had been urging both sides to settle out of court.
Mr Trump repeatedly claimed during his campaign that he would not settle the class-action lawsuits.Mr Trump repeatedly claimed during his campaign that he would not settle the class-action lawsuits.
"I will win the Trump University case. I already am, as far as I'm concerned," Mr Trump said in June."I will win the Trump University case. I already am, as far as I'm concerned," Mr Trump said in June.
"I could settle that case. I could have settled that case. I just choose not to.""I could settle that case. I could have settled that case. I just choose not to."
Mr Trump would not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement, the source said, adding that it is a "180 degree reversal" for the president-elect. Mr Trump would not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement, a source familiar with the settlement told the BBC earlier on Friday, adding that it is a "180 degree reversal" for the president-elect.
His lawyers had requested a delay in the case, but were refused. Trump University promised students the opportunity to learn from "hand-picked" teachers, that actually were not chosen by Mr Trump himself.
The closest students ever got to the real estate mogul was having their photo taken beside a cardboard cutout of him, Mr Schneiderman has alleged. He also said that Mr Trump personally pocketed about $5m (£4m) in the "scheme".