Kaitlyn Vitez
Mike Landis
U.S. PIRG applauds court decision protecting student loan borrowers
CHICAGO -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued an important, unanimous decision yesterday that opens the door for student loan borrowers to sue their servicer when they are misled or mistreated. The three-judge panel ruled in the case Nelson v. Great Lakes Education Loan Services, Inc. that federal law does not prevent the plaintiff, Nicole Nelson, and the class that she seeks to represent from suing their student loan servicer under state law. U.S. PIRG, along with the Center for Responsible Lending, had filed an amicus brief in support of the student loan borrower.
"Careless and often expensive mistakes from loan service providers exacerbate the student loan crisis, deepening the financial hole for cash-strapped students through no fault of their own," said Kaitlyn Vitez, U.S. PIRG's Higher Education Campaign Director. "State attorneys general and private attorneys should take the Nelson decision as a green light to defend student loan borrowers in the absence of federal action."
"This decision is a win not just for Nicole Nelson, but also for millions more students across the country who've experienced these costly mistakes," said Mike Landis, U.S. PIRG's Litigation Director. "This opinion makes clear that student loan borrowers who are mistreated and mislead by their servicers have recourse under state consumer protection law."
U.S. PIRG Education Fund is an independent, non-partisan group that works for consumers and the public interest. Through research, public education and outreach, we serve as counterweights to the influence of powerful special interests that threaten our health, safety or well-being. U.S. PIRG Education Fund is part of The Public Interest Network, which runs organizations committed to our vision of a better world, a set of core values, and a strategic approach to getting things done.
Hold the Antibiotics McDonald's
Consumer Watchdog
Protect Your Credit
Defend Net Neutrality
Zero Out Toxics
Ban Bee-Killing Pesticides
The Student PIRGs
Your tax-deductible donation supports U.S. PIRG Education Fund's work to educate consumers on the issues that matter, and the powerful interests that are blocking progress.
You can also support U.S. PIRG Education Fund's work through bequests, contributions from life insurance or retirement plans, securities contributions and vehicle donations.
UNITED STATES PUBLIC INTEREST
RESEARCH GROUP EDUCATION FUND
1543 Wazee Street, Suite 460, Denver, CO 80202 | (303) 801-0582
FEDERAL OFFICE:
600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 4th Fl. • Washington, DC 20003 | (202) 546-9707