University fraud case

Presidential campaign becomes a factor in Trump University fraud case

By Maggie Severns

In the latest turn in the class-action lawsuit accusing Trump University of fraud, Donald Trump’s lawyers have asked a judge to block the lead plaintiff from removing herself from the case — which she is seeking to do in part because of his presidential bid.

The plaintiff, Tarla Makaeff, has been deeply involved in the case against Trump’s education business since it was filed in federal court in San Diego in 2010. But as the case crept closer to a trial, she filed paperwork asking to leave the class action. She said she is grieving the death of her mother, has developed health and anxiety issues, and never anticipated she could be heading to court to testify against the leading presidential candidate.

"No one could have anticipated that he would become a viable presidential candidate and a 24/7 media obsession as this case neared trial," Makaeff's lawyers wrote earlier this month. "Subjecting herself to the intense media attention and likely barbs from Trump and his agents and followers simply would not be healthy for her."

But Trump’s lawyers wrote in a filing submitted Friday that it’s too late for her change of heart. Trump argues that the entire court battle would have played out differently — with the defense doing different discovery in the months leading up to trial — has Makaeff not been front and center. They also point out apparent discrepancies in Makaeff’s case against Trump, namely that she rated a number of her experiences at Trump University highly while she was taking the coursework. (Makaeff and others have said they were pressured to praise the courses.)

“Makaeff brought this lawsuit, allowed herself to become the public poster child for it, and should be required to finish what she started,” the filing says.

Trump also brought Makaeff’s fears to realization on Saturday when he attacked her — although he mangled her name — at a rally in Arkansas, pointing to her positive ratings for Trump University.

“Her name is Tarloff or something,” he said. “She is a horrible, horrible witness. She’s got in writing that she loves it.”