Student sues Hawaii
pharmacy college

A student of the embattled Hawaii College of Pharmacy has sued the school in federal court, making allegations that echo those in a separate lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court by the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection.

Student Robert Killian and his wife, Fabiola, allege that the start-up Kapolei college misled them about the school's accreditation and affiliations, according to their suit, which also was filed Wednesday.

In response, the college's dean, H.A. Hasan, said the Killians and all other students were informed verbally and in writing that the college was not accredited.

"Each and every student enrolling in the 2004-05 school year signed an agreement acknowledging that they were aware of the school's accreditation status," Hasan said in a statement.

The suit also alleges that the school's founders, David Monroe and Denise Criswell, accepted 240 students despite being told by a national accrediting agency that the school should accept no more than approximately 80 students.

The suit says the Killians sold their home in the San Francisco Bay area and moved to Hawaii so Robert could enroll in the school.

The suit asks for damages of $125,000, including $28,000 tuition, relocation costs and a year of lost wages.