A Marion County judge dismissed a class action lawsuit Nov. 12 against Martin University, though students may be able to file another legal claim against the college.
The civil lawsuit was filed in April by a group of former staff and students, as well as the Martin University Alumni Association. In the complaint, university community members claimed the school failed in its duties to provide educational training and services as promised.
A former student said in the lawsuit that the university had not refunded tuition and financial aid money, even though it closed late last year and did not offer classes in the spring 2026 semester. A former employee also wrote in an affidavit that she had not been paid for her last four weeks of work.
Martin University closed in December 2025. Since the closure, former university leaders —from former president Sean Huddleston to members of the Board of Trustees — have been largely silent about the circumstances that led to the university to shutter.
The lawsuit was filed against “Martin University/President” and the Martin University Board of Trustees but did not include specific names. When asked for more clarity on who the lawyers were representing in court, attorney for the university Adam Arceneaux said they represented “the defendants” and that he was not authorized to give more information.
Marion County Superior Court Judge James Joven dismissed the lawsuit, citing process issues and the plaintiff’s failure to state a claim, meaning the students, staff and alumni did not present a strong enough case against the now-shuttered university.
However, Joven dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning former students, staff or alumni will be able to file another lawsuit against Martin University if they want.
Robert Turner, the attorney representing Martin students, staff and alumni, estimated that about 20 other former Martin students have reached out to him asking to join the class action suit.
Turner told Mirror Indy he plans to check in with these students and the ones in the lawsuit and encourage them to file individual lawsuits if Martin still owes them money. He said this is because a class action lawsuit has to meet more requirements to get through the courts.
Turner said he had hoped they’d be able to get further in the lawsuit process, where there would have been opportunities to subpoena various former staffers and request documents.
“We’ve heard nothing from Martin,” said Turner. “If there was somebody contacting me from Martin, the lawsuit would not have been necessary in the first place.”
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, at 317-759-0249 or on most social media @clairerafford.
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