Article Published: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Regis sues five in alleged diploma mill on Net
By Greg Griffin
Denver Post Staff Writer
Regis University is suing five people it claims are running an Internet diploma mill with a similar name, damaging the Denver institution's reputation.
Regis claims the individuals behind "St. Regis University" have infringed on its trademark and engaged in unfair business practices. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in eastern Washington, where most of the defendants live.
"The university, along with our constituency, believes it is essential to take action to protect our good name," Regis spokeswoman Lee Ann Fleming said.
Defendants named are Steven Randock, Dixie Randock, Heidi Lorhan and Kenneth Pearson, all eastern Washington residents, and Richard Hoyer of New York.
On its website, St. Regis said it is accredited in Liberia and based in Monrovia, the capital. It also said it has never sold degrees.
The notice also said St. Regis has temporarily moved its programs to another unnamed Liberian university.
But Liberia has said St. Regis does not have the proper permits to operate there. St. Regis has been identified by the FBI as one of the largest Internet degree mills.
St. Regis has been at the center of controversies in Indiana and Georgia over diploma mills. In Indiana, an auto plant spent at least $42,000 in federal educational retraining money to buy degrees from St. Regis. In Georgia, several teachers were fired after using St. Regis degrees to get raises.
Fleming said Regis told St. Regis to put a disclaimer on its website in 2002 making it clear that it is not affiliated with the Denver university.
She said St. Regis put a hard-to-find disclaimer on its website for about two weeks.
Staff writer Greg Griffin can be reached at 303-820-1241 or ggriffin@denverpost.com .
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