Navient Student Loan Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Gets Certified

The Class includes investors who purchased Navient stock between Jan. 18, 2017 through Nov. 20, 2018. U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler agreed to the unopposed motion for certification this week, noting that hundreds of millions of shares were traded during that time. 

Navient hiked its stock price with deceptive information about how it treated borrowers — allegedly putting them in more expensive forbearance programs, rather than cost-effective income-based repayment plans. Then, according to the class action lawsuit, the company lied about it. 

Navient faces a number of other legal issues surrounding claims it misled student loan borrowers, including another class action lawsuit filed by student loan holders who say the company withheld information about federal loan forgiveness programs. In addition, Navient reportedly faces a potential $4 billion judgment in a lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) over the same allegations. Several State Attorneys General have also filed lawsuits saying Navient failed to properly inform borrowers about their options. 

These lawsuits accuse Navient of looking out for its bottom line at the expense of student loan borrowers. The company allegedly took the easy route, pushing borrowers to put a pricey pause on their loans, rather than taking the time to explain other, less expensive repayment options. In addition to forcing borrowers to pay more than under other federal repayment programs, the company allegedly based executive bonuses and other incentives on the number of borrowers put in forbearance. 

The Navient investors class action lawsuit claims that the company made false and misleading statements in response to legal action by the CFPB and Attorneys General in 2017, allegedly artificially inflating its stock price as a result. 

The investors contend that despite growing evidence that Navient engaged in predatory lending practices, company officers continued to categorically deny the allegations. When the alleged scheme was revealed in an AP News exclusive report on Nov. 20, 2018, Navient stock took a drive, dropping 11 percent when the article was released, claims the class action lawsuit. 

Were you misled by Navient’s alleged scheme to steer borrowers into forbearance? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below!

The lead plaintiffs and Class Members are represented by Adam M. Apton of Levi & Korsinsky LLP. 

The Navient Investors Class Action Lawsuit is Eli Pope v. Navient Corp. et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-08373, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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