Nursing Students Awarded $1.6M After School Ignored Shutdown Orders and Kept Enrolling

A jury awarded $1.6 million to 19 former nursing students of the Medical Learning Center, Inc. The verdict, reported by law firm Kelly Guzzo, PLC, represents an average of approximately $84,000 per student—a substantial recognition of the damages these aspiring nurses allegedly suffered.

What makes this case particularly troubling is that the nursing program reportedly continued accepting new students despite being ordered to shut down. This apparent disregard for legal directives raises serious questions about oversight and accountability in private nursing education.

About The Case

The jury found both the school and its operator, Ms. Safi, liable for fraud and violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The verdict comes after a four-day trial and years of regulatory noncompliance by the school that left students unable to pursue licensure as practical nurses.

According to the plaintiffs, they were told by Ms. Safi that the center’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program was fully approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and met all state requirements. Students were also assured that the program would qualify them to sit for the NCLEX exam and become licensed nurses. In reality, the LPN program had lost its Board approval in June 2023 and had been out of compliance since 2019—making its graduates ineligible for licensure.

Trial attorneys from Kelly Guzzo PLC presented evidence that Ms. Safi and the Medical Learning Center ignored multiple Board of Nursing orders to shut down the program. The court heard that Ms. Safi continued to enroll students even after the Board ordered the program to cease operations by December 31, 2023, and that these shutdown orders were never disclosed to enrolled or prospective students.

Following testimony from representatives of both the Board of Nursing and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the jury ruled in favor of each of the 19 plaintiffs. The court awarded both compensatory and punitive damages against Ms. Safi and the Medical Learning Center and issued a temporary injunction requiring the program to comply with the Board’s orders by no later than July 31, 2025.

“It was our privilege to represent these 19 women in their pursuit of justice, and we are grateful to the jury and the court for listening to our clients and awarding them relief for the pain and suffering that the defendants caused,” said lead trial attorney Matthew Rosendahl.

About Nursing School Accreditation

For current and prospective nursing students, this case serves as both a warning and reassurance. The warning is clear: not all nursing education programs operate with integrity. The reassurance comes in knowing that legal remedies exist when institutions fail to uphold their obligations to students.

The case highlights several critical considerations for anyone pursuing nursing education. First, accreditation matters. Legitimate nursing programs maintain accreditation from recognized bodies like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Second, state board of nursing approval is essential for any program whose graduates intend to seek licensure.

The Medical Learning Center case is not isolated. A 2023 report from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing identified 91 instances of nursing programs operating without proper authorization across the United States between 2018-2022, affecting an estimated 7,500 students.

The $1.6 million verdict, while significant, cannot fully compensate for lost opportunities and career setbacks. For the 19 former students involved, the financial award may help them restart their educational journeys, but the time lost cannot be recovered.

For anyone considering nursing education, the lesson is clear: verify, then trust. Check accreditation status, research program outcomes, and confirm state board approval before making what could be one of the most significant investments in your professional future.

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