ABA Fines University of Illinois Law School for False Admissions Data

In a story just published, the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the American Bar Association has fined the University Of Illinois College Of Law to the tune of $250,000 for reporting false admissions information.  The second paragraph of the story reads: 

It is the first time the American Bar Association has fined a university for reporting inaccurate consumer data, according to an ABA spokesman. 

Here’s the same information from the ABA press release: 

The council determined that the law school had violated the section’s Standards for Approval of Law Schools requiring law schools to maintain sound admissions policies and practices and to publish basic, accurate consumer information. The censure refers to intentionally false LSAT scores and incoming student grade-point-average data the school provided for the entering class of 2005 and the entering classes of 2007 through 2011. 

That’s an interesting characterization, as the judge who dismissed the Cooley law student case last Friday said the going to law school was a business decision and did not fall under the Michigan consumer protection laws.  I wonder how this might affect other ongoing litigation? 

One other question, does the ABA have the authority to issue fines?  Mind you, I’ve criticized the ABA for not acting forcefully enough in the past.  Given their tentative steps at reacting to market forces, this is really an aggressive step on their part.  Wow, law schools are now on notice that they can’t play fast and loose without the possibility of costing them money.  Who knew?  [MG]