$1.35 Million Settlement for Cosmetology School Class Action

Philadelphia cosmetology school, The Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, has agreed to settle class claims alleging that the school overcharged customers for cosmetic services performed by students in violation of Pennsylvania state law.

Lead plaintiff, Sophia Krivy, claimed that The Jean Madeline Aveda Institute charged her $12 for a haircut performed by an unlicensed student. Krivy argued that $12 was significantly higher than state law allows such a service to cost. According to Pennsylvania state law, “no school of cosmetology shall, directly or indirectly, charge any money whatsoever for treatment by its students and shall only charge the reasonable cost of materials used in such treatment.” Krivy alleges that the reasonable charge for her haircut should have been around $2 rather than $12.

The Jean Madeline Aveda Institute has agreed to create a settlement fund of $1.35 million to compensate customers of its three Philadelphia-area salons who received services between February 24, 2008 and February 16, 2016. Customers can either receive $25 in cash or $50 worth of cosmetic services vouchers. Customers who wish to opt into this settlement have until June 6, 2016 to submit claim forms. 

The case is: Sophia Krivy v. Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology Inc., et al., Case No. 2603 in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County February Term, 2014

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