Fielding Graduate University, a small nonprofit graduate school in Santa Barbara, California, has faced a handful of lawsuits in recent years, and the Fielding Graduate University lawsuits on public record have largely ended in settlement or dismissal. The most significant recent resolution is a $600,000 California wage-and-hour class action settlement approved in 2025. A federal civil rights case in Nevada was fully dismissed by early 2026, and two older suits closed without public findings against the university.
Mesa Wage-and-Hour Class Action
Salvador Mesa, a former employee, filed a class action against Fielding in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in February 2024. The complaint, case number 24CV00853, alleged roughly a dozen California Labor Code violations on behalf of non-exempt hourly employees who worked for Fielding between February 2020 and September 2024. Mesa alleged the university failed to pay minimum wages and overtime, denied required meal and rest breaks, issued inaccurate wage statements, and did not reimburse business expenses.1Santa Barbara Superior Court. Tentative Ruling, Case 24CV00853
Fielding agreed to pay a gross settlement of $600,000 on a non-reversionary basis, so the entire fund would be paid out regardless of claim rates. The class included 149 members. Judge Donna D. Geck granted preliminary approval in January 2025 and granted final approval in part on May 23, 2025.2Santa Barbara Superior Court. Tentative Ruling, Final Approval, Case 24CV00853
The approved allocations from the fund were:
- Class counsel fees of $200,000.
- PAGA penalties of $50,000, split as $12,500 to affected employees and $37,500 to California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
- Litigation expenses of $15,000, reduced from the $17,686.87 plaintiff’s counsel had requested.
- A class representative payment to Mesa of $10,000.
- Settlement administration costs of $7,000, reduced from a requested $8,200.
The court trimmed the expense and administration figures to match what class members had been promised in the settlement notice. Judge Geck also rejected the plaintiff’s proposed final order for procedural violations, including exceeding page limits and using non-compliant font sizes, and ordered a revised submission.2Santa Barbara Superior Court. Tentative Ruling, Final Approval, Case 24CV00853 A follow-up review is set for June 2027 to confirm payments have been completed.3Santa Barbara Superior Court. Tentative Ruling, Case Review, Case 24CV00853
Sadora Federal Civil Rights Case in Nevada
Jason Sadora, representing himself, sued Fielding and three individuals in July 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, case number 2:24-cv-01240. The docket classified the case under “Civil Rights: Accommodations,” but the specific factual allegations do not appear in public docket summaries.4PACER Monitor. Sadora v. Fielding Graduate University et al
The individual defendants were Danielle Moreggi, Clinical and Training Director for the Psychology Institute of Las Vegas; Wendi Williams, Fielding’s provost; and Connie Veazey, program director of the university’s Clinical Psychology Department.5Justia. Stipulation and Order, Sadora v. Fielding Graduate University The case was assigned to Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon. Following early neutral evaluation in January 2025, the parties reported a full resolution.
In March 2025, the court entered a stipulated dismissal with prejudice as to Fielding, Williams, and Veazey, with each side bearing its own costs.6Justia. Stipulation and Order for Dismissal, Case 2:24-cv-01240 Moreggi, the remaining defendant, was dismissed with prejudice on February 9, 2026, also with each party bearing its own fees and costs.4PACER Monitor. Sadora v. Fielding Graduate University et al The case is now terminated, and no settlement terms beyond the mutual cost arrangement were publicly disclosed.
Sapir Fraud Case (2014)
Jason Sapir sued Fielding in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, and a May 2014 tentative ruling by Judge Thomas Anderle addressed a demurrer to Sapir’s first amended complaint. The complaint included fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment, and negligence claims, among others. Judge Anderle allowed the fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims to proceed after amendment, but dismissed the negligent infliction of emotional distress claim permanently. Claims for civil conspiracy and interference with contractual relations were also dismissed without leave to amend, and the court struck requests for punitive damages and attorney’s fees.7Trellis Law. Tentative Ruling, Sapir vs Fielding Graduate University The factual allegations underlying the fraud claim were not detailed in the available ruling, and the case’s final outcome was not found in the available records.
Logan Labor Case (2019)
Colleen Logan filed a labor-related lawsuit against Fielding in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, case number 2:19-cv-10580, after removal from state court. Judge Dale S. Fischer approved a stipulation to dismiss the action with prejudice on April 6, 2021.8CourtListener. Colleen Logan v. Fielding Graduate University No further details about the claims or terms of the resolution were available.
What the Pending Merger Means for Ongoing Matters
Fielding is in the process of merging with Excelsior University, a deal both governing boards approved unanimously in February 2026. Fielding’s Board of Trustees said “years of enrollment decline and recurring budget deficits” made the merger necessary, calling it the “most viable path to preserve and strengthen Fielding’s legacy.”9Fielding Graduate University. Fielding-Excelsior Partnership Upon completion, Fielding’s programs would sit inside a new “Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences” within Excelsior.10Fielding Graduate University. Leadership Transition at Fielding Signals the University’s Next Era Regulatory approval is expected to take a year or longer.11Fielding Graduate University. Partnership FAQ The Mesa settlement’s June 2027 payment review will fall within that window.