Bernstein Liebhard LLP Announces That A Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

NEW YORK, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP today announced that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on behalf of a class of purchasers of Bridgepoint Education, Inc. ("Bridgepoint" or the "Company") (NYSE: BPI) stock between May 3, 2011 and July 6, 2012 (the "Class Period"). 

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The complaint charges Bridgepoint and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Bridgepoint is a for-profit provider of postsecondary education services. The Company's academic institutions include Ashford University ("Ashford") located in Clinton, Iowa, and University of the Rockies located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as online institutions.

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants issued materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business and prospects. Specifically, defendants concealed accreditation problems with the Company's Ashford campus. As a result of defendants' false statements, Bridgepoint stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period, reaching a high of $30.50 per share on July 22, 2011.

The complaint alleges that in May and June 2011, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges ("WASC") and its eligibility review committee notified Ashford of several concerns it had regarding the institution's future accreditation. Thus, by the Spring of 2011, at the latest, the Company had been advised that Ashford's accreditation was at risk. Then, on July 9, 2012, Bridgepoint filed a Form 8-K with the SEC disclosing that on July 5, 2012, Ashford had received an official notice denying its accreditation application by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the WASC. On this news, Bridgepoint stock plunged $7.25 per share to close at $14.25 per share on July 9, 2012, a decline of nearly 34% on volume of 1.2 million shares.

According to the complaint, the true facts, which were known by the defendants but concealed from the investing public during the Class Period, were as follows: (a) the Company had failed to implement plans, procedures and practices to sufficiently assist students in staying with the programs they enrolled in and complete the courses; (b) the Company failed to align resources with educational requirements such that students were not benefitting from the resources available and were therefore not progressing to an acceptable level; (c) Ashford failed to maintain a sufficient core of faculty and programs to develop faculty, leading to poor teaching and poor completion rates by students; (d) Bridgepoint had inadequate review procedures such that shortfalls were not quickly identified and remedied; and (e) Ashford failed to maintain an empowered and independent governing board.

Plaintiffs seek to recover damages on behalf of all Class members who purchased or otherwise acquired Bridgepoint stock during the Class Period.  If you purchased or otherwise acquired Bridgepoint stock during the Class Period, and either lost money on the transaction or still hold the shares, you may wish to join in this action to serve as lead plaintiff.  In order to do so, you must meet certain requirements set forth in the applicable law and file appropriate papers no later than September 11, 2012.

A "lead plaintiff" is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.  In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class.  Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as lead plaintiff.  Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.  You may retain Bernstein Liebhard LLP, or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.

If you are interested in discussing your rights as a Bridgepoint shareholder and/or have information relating to the matter, please contact Joseph R. Seidman, Jr. at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected].

Bernstein Liebhard LLP has pursued hundreds of securities, consumer and shareholder rights cases and recovered over $3 billion for its clients.  It has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" in each of the last nine years.

You can obtain a copy of the complaint from the clerk of the court for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP
10 East 40th Street
New York, New York 10016
(877) 779-1414
www.bernlieb.com

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2012 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin.  Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information

Joseph R. Seidman, Jr.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
http://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 779-1414
[email protected]

SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP

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