The California state flag flies alongside the U.S. flag.
OAKLAND — A $1.35 million settlement of class-action lawsuits over the problem-plagued 2025 California bar exam has been made public in court documents, a move that likely puts an end to multiple claims filed against the test administrator, Meazure Learning.
In a motion for approval of the settlement filed Sept. 18 in the Northern District of California federal court, attorneys for the plaintiffs and class members said the agreement would provide refunds for all class members for the $153 laptop fee they paid in order to take the exam in February of last year.
The lawsuits filed by test takers argued that Meazure Learning`s exam platform failed to perform as promised and that test takers experienced such problems as crashed screens and disappearing texts. The legal complaints were eventually consolidated in the Northern District of California.
Some of the complaints alleged that Meazure Learning should have been held responsible for violation of California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Plaintiffs initially sought compensation for time spent studying, lost wages and travel expenses, but those arguments were weakened after the State Bar decided to adjust its scoring of the exams to compensate for platform problems, according to the Sept. 18 motion.
The State Bar also provided “refunds, waivers and stipends” to compensate applicants affected by the technical problems that occurred during the exam.
A third of the settlement fund, up to $450,000, will go to the class counsel, while nearly $28,000 will be used to cover mediation and court costs, as well as other reasonable expenses, according to the motion. In addition, seven plaintiffs will each receive $10,000 as compensation for “bravely pursuing litigation associated with their professional licensure and fully participating in the case,” the motion states.
A Meazure Learning spokesperson said that the company denies any impropriety in the bar exam’s rollout.
“While Meazure Learning vigorously defended against the claims and continues to deny any liability or wrongdoing, Meazure Learning agreed to a settlement to avoid the time, expense and distraction of protracted litigation,” the spokesman told the Southern California Record in an email.
The company also said it has a long history of successfully administering exams.
“Meazure Learning proudly stands behind our track record of reliably administering over 4 million exams annually and supporting more than 1,000 organizations across industries over the course of our more than 20 years in the testing industry,” the spokesperson said.
If Meazure Learning administers any future California bar exams, it will carry out a quality-assurance audit and provide a written report about the adequacy of its software, according to the settlement.
“The settlement also warrants preliminary approval because it was negotiated at arm’s
length and its value is substantial when weighed against the risk and delay of further litigation,” the Sept. 18 motion states.
In July, the State Bar reported that Meazure Learning had agreed to pay the state agency $5.25 million to settle its lawsuit against the company. In that action, the State Bar had alleged that the company was liable for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract.
