Five sue over nursing-school ouster

Sabrina Whitaker had one semester left at St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing before she could graduate and achieve her dream of becoming a registered nurse.
But in November 2008, she was dismissed from the program without warning, Whitaker said.
"They told me my grades were not acceptable and that I was unprepared," Whitaker said. "I knew I was passing prior to my final exam. But I was told very rudely that I had failed."
Whitaker, 39, wasn't alone. Ten other students were booted from the program for similar reasons, she said. It was too late for any of them to get a refund on the $22,000 each had paid in tuition.
Whitaker said she appealed and asked to see her graded final exam.
"They said no," Whitaker said, and told her to consider becoming a practical nurse instead. Yesterday, Whitaker and four of the former nursing students filed suit against the school in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, alleging breach of contract and fraud.