From the point of view of public relations and customer satisfaction, it was a nighmare scenario. On Wednesday, NYU's Robert Wagner School of Public Service erroneously admitted almost 500 students that were supposed to be rejected. The applicants received an email alerting them to their admission. An hour later, they got a second email telling them they weren't accepted. Talk about a crappy April Fool's joke!
The University blamed it on a clerical error. Which leaves me pondering why they even bothered explaining this. What was the alternative account? The 489 people were all busted for DUI's in the hour between their admission and their rejection? The school wanted 489 applicants to be really pissed? The computer did it entirely on its own, and is now plotting to dethrone John Sexton?
I guarantee you this much: at least one member of that Gang of 489 is considering a lawsuit.
A somewhat similar story here (University of California at San Diego):
http://tinyurl.com/ddd9c5
On what legal grounds could someone sue the University for this? Is an offer of admission a binding agreement?
At least with email you can correct this in an hour; snail mail would take another day at least!
How about a tort action, perhaps negligent infliction of severe emotional distress?
Contract if you sent in your acceptance of the admission offer? Promissory estoppel if you withdrew your applications to other schools in reliance on the first e-mail?