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A Pennsylvania court rejected a motion filed by Navient to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Navient is the nation’s largest student loan company. Shapiro alleged that the by committed abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices in connection with its student loan origination and servicing. As a result, the company harmed student loan borrowers in Pennsylvania and in other states.

In its motion, the company tried to convince U.S. District Court Judge Robert Mariani discard eight of the attorney general’s nine claims.

Key details in the court’s order against Navient

In its ruling, Mariani concluded that the Consumer Financial Protection (CFPA) does not prohibit states from filing a lawsuit even if the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a pending litigation addressing a similar violation. The judge noted that the CFPA supports Pennsylvania’s position that it can maintain its concurrent CFPA claims against Navient.

In addition, the judge rejected Navient’s preemptive claim that the Higher Education Act (HEA) protects its practices from scrutiny by the attorney general.

Furthermore, Mariani agreed with Shapiro’s claims that Navient directed borrowers into repayment options that were not in their best interest. He also agreed with Shapiro’s claims that the company led borrowers to miss deadlines to recertify income-driven repayment plans.

The court’s order means the attorney general’s litigation against the student loan company will move forward.

“A step closer to providing justice for students and their families”

In a statement, Shapiro said, “Navient’s deceptive practices and predatory conduct harmed student borrowers and put their own profits ahead of the interests of millions of families across our country…”

“As I said before, I stand behind this lawsuit. We will work diligently to protect borrowers, and yesterday’s win will allow us to proceed towards trial.  We still have important work to do in the case, but this brings us one step closer in our fight to provide justice to the students and families in Pennsylvania and across the country who have been harmed by Navient,” he added.