Press Release  AG Healey Sues Boston Language Institute and Owner for Misleading Students

Boston — Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that she has sued the Boston Language Institute (BLI) and its owner for misleading customers and violating the state’s consumer protection law.

The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that BLI and its owner, Siri Karm Singh Khalsa, violated the state’s consumer protection law by failing to refund enrolled students, failing to disclose the school’s financial situation, continuing to enroll students, and continuing to guarantee refunds for BLI programs despite knowing that the school would likely not be able to continue operations or pay refunds.           

“Boston Language Institute was on the brink of financial collapse, but the owner continued to enroll students and offer special discounts for classes that would never happen,” said AG Healey. “We are suing to get students their money back.”

The AG’s Office alleges the school’s poor financial situation was apparent to Singh Khalsa well before the school ceased operations in on January 16, 2019. Despite this knowledge, Singh Khalsa continued to enroll students, and even offered inducements such as discounts and other special offers, including offerings for ten percent discounts for foreign language classes and twenty percent discounts for ESL classes as late as January 14, 2019.

The AG’s Office is seeking refunds for all fees paid by students for classes that were not completed when BLI closed in January 2019, payment for any other loss of money or property to Massachusetts students, and civil penalties.

This matter is being handled by Michael Sugar and Maggie Wallace, of AG Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division.

###