Permanent Injunction Issued Against Unlicensed Nursing School

TWC issued cease and desist order against school  Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced today that a permanent injunction has been issued against Richardson-based Esther Medical Institute Inc. its owner Esther Oleru and Stanley Jean owner of Georgia-based ATCI Medical Institute and Olerus offshore financial sponsor for failure to obtain valid licenses or exemptions to operate a career school under the Texas Education Code. The judgment also holds the owner of the now-defunct health care career school liable for $840000 in restitution to students imposes a $150000 civil penalty and orders the defendants to pay any attorney fees associated with the case. TWC diligently pursues and takes appropriate legal action against individuals or companies that make false claims to students" said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. We are committed to ensuring that potential students are well-informed about any career school programs or classes in which they decide to enroll." The ruling states that the school operated without a certificate of approval from TWC and that the defendants failed to inform students that the school was not approved by TWC. Oleru and her co-defendant also did not disclose that TWC had issued a cease and desist order. The defendants also misled students about the schools certification status affiliation with other more well-known schools and relevancy of its coursework. TWC had issued a cease and desist order against the school in 2008 after the agency received and investigated numerous complaints from students who discovered they were not eligible to take the state-mandated Texas nursing licensure examinations through the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) due to the schools unlicensed status. It is always important to investigate the approval status of a program of study before investing time and money in a pursuit of education" said Virginia Ayars EdD MS RN Texas BON Education Consultant. All potential students should be aware that a program of study they are considering should be appropriately licensed and accredited before they enroll in the program." After issuing the cease and desist order TWC received calls from potential students who said Esther Medical Institute continued to accept entrance applications and tuition for its medical and nursing programs and claimed the school would prepare students for clinical apprenticeships and the BON exams. In May 2008 TWC referred the case to the Texas Office of the Attorney General after learning the defendant was in fact still operating the school and accepting new students. TWC is committed to protecting these hard-working students who are studying for a chance to get high-demand well-paying jobs" said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton.