Two men who reside in the Bronx, New York are wanted for their roles in an elderly scam that took place in Ocean County, Barnegat Police Chief Keith Germain and Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced on Thursday.
There are warrants out for the arrests of 34-year old Jorge Peguero-Mendez and 24-year old Richard Quinones-Perez who have each been charged with Theft by Deception as well as Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception.
This all stems from an incident that occurred last month in Barnegat when an elderly woman received a call from a man claiming to be her grandson.
He said he was in a motor vehicle accident in New York City and that he was arrested because the other driver sustained injuries and that he already had a lawyer appointed to represent him.
Shortly thereafter, the woman got a second phone call, this from a man claiming to be the man’s attorney (her fake grandson) and he said he could get her ‘grandson’ out of custody if she gave him $8,000 in cash.
Both men then drove down to Barnegat and one of the men pretended to be a courier there to pick up the $8,000.
When she spoke to her family, the woman realized that she had fallen victim to a scam and that her grandson was not arrested.
Barnegat Police began an investigation and along the way they learned that similar incidents, scams had occurred recently in Hopewell Township as well as up in Nassau County, New York.
As the investigation progressed, Barnegat Police worked with Hopewell Police, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, Nassau County New York Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad.
Peguero-Mendez and Quinones-Perez were later identified as the individuals responsible for the scamming incidents in all those areas.
If you or someone you believes you’ve been victimized by these men or know any information on where they are, you’re urged to contact Officer Robert Armstrong of the Barnegat Township Police Department at (609) 698-5000.
“These types of incidents should serve as a cautionary tale for all of our senior citizens here in Ocean County, as well as a reminder that unscrupulous individuals are out there just waiting to prey upon the most vulnerable members of our community,” Prosecutor Billhimer said in a statement. “Please be vigilant in identifying these fraudulent phone calls, and recognize that any phone call or message requesting large sums of cash or wire transfers is likely a scam. These types of calls should be immediately reported to law enforcement.”
A school district in Essex County is taking a page out of the spring 2021 handbook by once again offering parents the choice of either in-person instruction or remote learning — this time temporarily as COVID-19 cases surge.
Parents concerned about the rising COVID cases in Bloomfield Public Schools were given the option of voluntary remote instruction model offered by the district and now it’s been extended through the end of the month, school officials announced Wednesday.
“As we continue to give careful consideration to the Local, State and National COVID-19 trends, we would like to extend the voluntary parental remote instruction model through Friday, January 28,” Superintendent Salvatore Goncalves informed community members this week.
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The new name is part of an organization-wide brand transformation, reaffirming the medical center’s commitment to the community
On Jan 13, 2022
East Orange General Hospital (EOGH), Essex County’s only independent, acute care community hospital, unveiled a new name, CareWell Health Medical Center, and logo at a celebration yesterday. The new name is part of an organization-wide brand transformation, reaffirming the medical center’s commitment to the community and vision for the future. New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, East Orange Mayor Ted T. Green and Orange Township Mayor Dwayne D. Warren, Esq. attended the unveiling ceremony, along with members of the new hospital ownership group, EOH Acquisition Group, LLC.
“East Orange General Hospital has been an anchor institution in the community providing exemplary care to area residents for the 40-plus years that I have called East Orange my home. I am so excited for their new chapter,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. “The name may have changed, but under the leadership and ownership of Ms. Paige Dworak, CareWell Health Medical Center will continue to serve area residents with dignity and compassion while better tailoring and expanding services and programs to meet the changing needs of the community.”
“This is a proud moment for our historic institution,” said Paige Dworak, CEO of CareWell Health Medical Center. “CareWell Health Medical Center is a true community hospital serving Essex County, a place where every patient is family. Our new name and brand represent our commitment to transforming this vital community asset, signaling a fresh start for this organization. Generations of children, parents, friends and loved ones have turned to us for help, hope, and healing – and we look forward to continuing to serve Essex County for decades to come.”
The CareWell Health leadership team spent several months conducting market research to evaluate perceptions of the previous brand. The research included interviews with prominent members of the East Orange community, area residents, physicians, employees, local business owners, and leaders from statewide industry organizations. The new brand symbolizes the transformation of the medical center into the leading independent, boutique community hospital in Essex County.
“We take pride in being a small, devoted community hospital where everyone is welcome. Whether you walk right in seeking care, take the bus here to our front door, or arrive needing help in a hurry, you can always be sure you are important to us and will never be treated like just another number,” added Dworak.
In October, CareWell Health announced it would be acquired by EOH Acquisition Group, LLC, a new ownership group led by Dworak, the first female-owner and CEO of a hospital in New Jersey; Ben Klein, an Englewood resident and owner of more than three dozen behavioral health facilities; and attorney Troy Schell. On Jan. 1, EOH Acquisition Group, LLC officially acquired the medical center.
The new leadership intends to expand services and invest in the best people and technology, ensuring the facility continues its mission to provide high-quality care to the residents of East Orange and the surrounding greater Newark communities.
CareWell Health is Essex County’s only boutique community hospital. The medical center’s financial priorities will be focused on growth, specifically, investments in new programs and services, expanding its primary care services and surgical services to support its core mission as an acute care facility. In addition, CareWell Health is deepening its focus on behavioral health.
“At CareWell Health, we understand that our patients are coming to us during moments of great need, and we believe our patients deserve the highest quality care and best experience possible,” added Dworak.
The COVID-19 crisis underscored a value and reliability in CareWell Health services that Essex County communities have counted on since as far back as 1903. The medical center has never closed its doors during the pandemic and, in fact, expanded services, becoming a go-to site for testing, education and counseling, and providing telemedicine to safely reach patients where they were.
Over the next several weeks and months, the medical center will transition to the new brand identity, applying it to the hospital website, social media platforms, ID badges, stationery, signage and more.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday halted a vote to to begin building a controversial natural gas-fired power plant in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood and called for officials to more thoroughly review the environmental impact of the project.
The decision comes after a coalition of environmentalists, doctors, and local activists — who have been fighting the project for more than a year — implored the governor to stop the plans, saying the plant would harm an area already overburdened by air pollution.
The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission was slated to vote Thursday on granting a contract to begin work on the $180 million facility, designed as a backup to keep its main sewage treatment plant running should there be a power outage sparked by disasters.
But the commission dropped the vote from its meeting after Murphy interceded.
This doesn’t mean the project is killed. The governor’s office said Murphy asked the commission to “pause the process and postpone the vote” to further review the plans.
“Since taking office in 2018, Governor Murphy has made clear that New Jersey’s overburdened communities will no longer be a dumping ground for harmful pollutants,” Alexandra Altman, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office, said in a statement. “While the proposed back up generation put forth by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission is meant to provide a critical climate resilience solution, it is imperative that the project adheres to the administration’s core values on environmental justice.”
“The pause will allow the project to undergo a more thorough environmental justice review and robust public engagement process, ensuring that the voices of the community are heard,” Altman added.
Murphy told reporters Thursday after an unrelated event in Teaneck that he can’t judge whether there will ever be a natural gas-fired plant on the site.
“We’ve committed to a process,” he said. “I think the fact they’ve stepped back from a vote and there’s gonna be a continuation — there has been a process — but there’s now gonna be a more specific one over the next several months. We’ll see how that turns out.”
In a letter to Murphy last month, a coalition of activists called the plans “a massive violation” of Murphy’s “commitment to environmental justice.”
The governor had declined to comment on the matter Wednesday, leading one local activist, Maria Lopez-Nunez, to say Murphy was “leaving us to ourselves to fight for our lives.”
Lopez-Nunez, director of environmental justice and community development with the Ironbound Community Corporation, said Thursday that Murphy “has reaffirmed his commitment to environmental justice by canceling today’s vote.”
“We need to bring in real resources and experts to find a solution that does not hurt the lungs of our children and in no way contributes to climate change,” Lopez-Nunez said.
Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation voters, thanked Murphy for “agreeing with us that this is the last thing the residents of the Ironbound community need is another polluting fracked-gas power plant.”
Potosnak said his group looks forward to working with officials to “ensure the project is aligned with our clean energy goals and won’t add to the burden of carbon pollutants.”
The Passaic Valley Sewage Commission has been planning the backup plant after Hurricane Sandy caused its main sewage facility in Newark — which services more than a million homes in North Jersey — to lose power for three days, leading sewage to spill into nearby waterways.
Though opponents don’t dispute a backup is needed, they say the current plans for the new facility would bring more pollution to a neighborhood made up largely of Black and brown residents that already has three natural gas plants and suffers from poor air quality.
Instead, opponents have been asking the commission to rework the project with only alternative, clean-energy sources.
Scientists and doctors at the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center wrote Murphy and the commission a separate letter saying the Newark project will “undoubtedly increase air pollutants linked to health problems such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, autism, learning disabilities, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease.”
Opponents also argue the project would ironically contribute to climate change and more storms like Sandy.
The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission has said the backup plant is designed to use “state-of-the-art technology for both air quality protection and operating efficiency.”
The board said last year it considered using renewable energy at the plant instead but the large amount of power and the site’s location make that implausible.
The commissioner also notes it has made changes to improve the project’s environmental footprint. Though original plans were to run the plant initially on 100% natural gas, the commission said it announced last month the facility will speed up plans to have it run on “alternative green renewable fuels either in conjunction with natural gas, or, as the technology becomes available, as a complete replacement.”
But the coalition dismissed those as “false solutions.”
The existing sewage treatment plant is the state’s largest user of electricity and handles sewage for more than 1.5 million homes across 48 municipalities in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties.
The PVCS said both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state DEP called on the commission to implement a “resiliency plan” for power outages and disasters. A loss of power for “any significant length of time,” along with heavy rains, would result in raw sewage backups in basements and street flooding throughout Newark, Jersey City, and Bayonne, the commission said.
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One of the nation’s largest student loan servicers has agreed to relieve $1.85 billion in loan debt to help settle a blockbuster lawsuit filed by 38 states and the District of Columbia, authorities announced Thursday.
Under the terms of the settlement, Navient Corp and its subsidiary Navient Solutions LLC will make restitution payments of roughly $260 each to 350,000 borrowers, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said.
It will also cancel more than $1.7 billion in subprime private student loans owed by 66,000 or so borrowers nationwide, he said.
The settlement includes approximately $57.2 million in debt relief to 2,040 New Jersey borrowers and $3.1 million in restitution payments to 11,522 other Garden State residents, Bruck said. The state itself will also receive $3 million, he said.
The borrowers who will receive restitution or forgiveness “span all generations,” the attorney general said.
Navient’s “harmful conduct impacted everyone from students who enrolled in colleges and universities immediately after high school to mid-career students who dropped out after enrolling in a for-profit school in the early 2000s,” he said.
Parents or grandparents who co-signed their children or grandchildren’s subprime loans will also receive relief, Bruck said.
“Student loan borrowers who thought college would be a path to success instead found themselves on the road to financial ruin as a result of Navient’s unlawful conduct,” said Sean P. Neafsey, the acting director of New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs. “The settlement announced today holds Navient accountable for its unconscionable conduct and provides meaningful financial relief to the borrowers harmed by it.”
******
NOTE: Borrowers in the affected 38 states and D.C. don’t need to take any action to receive the benefits required under the settlement, authorities said. Consumers receiving private loan debt cancellation will receive a notice from Navient, and they will receive refunds of any payments made after June 30, 2021, they said.
New Jersey borrowers who are eligible for a restitution payment will automatically receive a restitution check of approximately $260 from the Attorney General’s settlement administrator in mid-2022. To ensure the settlement administrator can find you, federal loan borrowers who may be eligible for a restitution payment are encouraged to update their contact information in their studentaid.gov account or create an account if they do not already have one.
******
From 1989 to 2016, the average cost of obtaining a degree from a four-year college or university in the United States rose about eight times as fast as the average wage, statistics show.
Faced with the soaring cost of higher education, more than 44 million people Americans have outstanding student loans totaling now more than $1.75 trillion nationwide, Bruck said.
The average New Jersey borrower carries $35,730 in student debt — among the highest in the country — according to some sources, the attorney general said.
Student loan servicers are a “critical link between borrowers and lenders,” he said. “In addition to managing borrowers’ accounts and processing their monthly payments, student loan servicers are responsible for assisting financially struggling borrowers to enroll in alternative repayment plans or request a modification of loan terms from lenders.”
Navient, formerly known as Sallie Mae, was one of the nation’s largest servicers of both federal and private student loans until partially exiting the business in September 2021, Bruck said.
By then, its student loan origination and servicing business had severely screwed young borrowers, deliberately fooling some of them into paying back more money than was due at the time by lying about the amounts, he said.
Navient “engaged in unconscionable commercial practices, deceptive conduct, and misrepresentations when servicing thousands of New Jersey consumers’ student loans over the past decade – boosting company profits at the expense of struggling borrowers,” Bruck said.
The consequences of its conduct likely had the greatest impact on borrowers who could least afford it, he said.
A study by the New York Federal Reserve found that borrowers in black-majority zip codes were more likely to borrow to fund their education, the attorney said. They also have higher average loan balances and default at almost double the rate of white-majority zip code borrowers, the study found.
Among the other findings:
borrowers who received Pell Grants — most of whom have family incomes below $40,000 — were five times as likely to default within 12 years;
borrowers whose parents did not attend college were more than twice as likely to default than borrowers whose parents did attend college;
borrowers who began their education at for-profit colleges defaulted at seven times the rate of those who attended public colleges.
New Jersey officials filed their suit in October 2020 in Essex County, accusing Navient Corp. and Navient Solutions LLC of “deceptive and unconscionable tactics at various times over the last decade” in violation of New Jersey consumer protection laws.
This included training Navient employees to “collect more than the past due amount by using language that misled borrowers about how much they owed,” the division reportedly. “Specifically, Navient sought to collect not only the delinquent amount but also the next month’s payment by misleadingly calling the amount sought the ‘Present Amount Due.’
The result: Borrowers were forced into paying hundreds of dollars more than they’d budgeted for individual payments.
The state suit also accused Navient of:
Steering borrowers having financial trouble into forbearance instead of repayment options and loan-forgiveness programs, causing unnecessary accrual of interest, the addition of interest to the principal and lost months of timely payments that would have otherwise counted toward loan forgiveness;
Failing to inform borrowers of deadlines to recertify their eligibility for certain income-driven repayment plans – the consequences of which included boosting their monthly payments and causing other financial damages when their plans unnecessarily expired;
Enticing borrowers to take out private student loans with a family member or someone else as cosigner, then making it exceedingly difficult to have the cosigner released from any obligations.
On October 20, 2021, Navient’s contract to service 5.6 million loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education was transferred to Maximus/AidVantage, Bruck said Thursday. Following completion of this transfer, Navient will continue to service its existing portfolio of private student loans and legacy Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans issued before the FFEL program ended in 2010, he said.
New Jersey borrowers who are having issues with their student loans that they are unable to resolve with their student loan servicers can file a complaint by calling 1-800-446-7467 or online by completing a banking formal complaint form by clicking “Consumer Assistance – Inquiries/Complaints” here: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/consumer.htm
One of the nation’s largest student loan servicers has agreed to relieve $1.85 billion in loan debt to help settle a blockbuster lawsuit filed by 38 states and the District of Columbia, authorities announced Thursday.
Under the terms of the settlement, Navient Corp and its subsidiary Navient Solutions LLC will make restitution payments of roughly $260 each to 350,000 borrowers, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said.
It will also cancel more than $1.7 billion in subprime private student loans owed by 66,000 or so borrowers nationwide, he said.
The settlement includes approximately $57.2 million in debt relief to 2,040 New Jersey borrowers and $3.1 million in restitution payments to 11,522 other Garden State residents, Bruck said. The state itself will also receive $3 million, he said.
The borrowers who will receive restitution or forgiveness “span all generations,” the attorney general said.
Navient’s “harmful conduct impacted everyone from students who enrolled in colleges and universities immediately after high school to mid-career students who dropped out after enrolling in a for-profit school in the early 2000s,” he said.
Parents or grandparents who co-signed their children or grandchildren’s subprime loans will also receive relief, Bruck said.
“Student loan borrowers who thought college would be a path to success instead found themselves on the road to financial ruin as a result of Navient’s unlawful conduct,” said Sean P. Neafsey, the acting director of New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs. “The settlement announced today holds Navient accountable for its unconscionable conduct and provides meaningful financial relief to the borrowers harmed by it.”
******
NOTE: Borrowers in the affected 38 states and D.C. don’t need to take any action to receive the benefits required under the settlement, authorities said. Consumers receiving private loan debt cancellation will receive a notice from Navient, and they will receive refunds of any payments made after June 30, 2021, they said.
New Jersey borrowers who are eligible for a restitution payment will automatically receive a restitution check of approximately $260 from the Attorney General’s settlement administrator in mid-2022. To ensure the settlement administrator can find you, federal loan borrowers who may be eligible for a restitution payment are encouraged to update their contact information in their studentaid.gov account or create an account if they do not already have one.
******
From 1989 to 2016, the average cost of obtaining a degree from a four-year college or university in the United States rose about eight times as fast as the average wage, statistics show.
Faced with the soaring cost of higher education, more than 44 million people Americans have outstanding student loans totaling now more than $1.75 trillion nationwide, Bruck said.
The average New Jersey borrower carries $35,730 in student debt — among the highest in the country — according to some sources, the attorney general said.
Student loan servicers are a “critical link between borrowers and lenders,” he said. “In addition to managing borrowers’ accounts and processing their monthly payments, student loan servicers are responsible for assisting financially struggling borrowers to enroll in alternative repayment plans or request a modification of loan terms from lenders.”
Navient, formerly known as Sallie Mae, was one of the nation’s largest servicers of both federal and private student loans until partially exiting the business in September 2021, Bruck said.
By then, its student loan origination and servicing business had severely screwed young borrowers, deliberately fooling some of them into paying back more money than was due at the time by lying about the amounts, he said.
Navient “engaged in unconscionable commercial practices, deceptive conduct, and misrepresentations when servicing thousands of New Jersey consumers’ student loans over the past decade – boosting company profits at the expense of struggling borrowers,” Bruck said.
The consequences of its conduct likely had the greatest impact on borrowers who could least afford it, he said.
A study by the New York Federal Reserve found that borrowers in black-majority zip codes were more likely to borrow to fund their education, the attorney said. They also have higher average loan balances and default at almost double the rate of white-majority zip code borrowers, the study found.
Among the other findings:
borrowers who received Pell Grants — most of whom have family incomes below $40,000 — were five times as likely to default within 12 years;
borrowers whose parents did not attend college were more than twice as likely to default than borrowers whose parents did attend college;
borrowers who began their education at for-profit colleges defaulted at seven times the rate of those who attended public colleges.
New Jersey officials filed their suit in October 2020 in Essex County, accusing Navient Corp. and Navient Solutions LLC of “deceptive and unconscionable tactics at various times over the last decade” in violation of New Jersey consumer protection laws.
This included training Navient employees to “collect more than the past due amount by using language that misled borrowers about how much they owed,” the division reportedly. “Specifically, Navient sought to collect not only the delinquent amount but also the next month’s payment by misleadingly calling the amount sought the ‘Present Amount Due.’
The result: Borrowers were forced into paying hundreds of dollars more than they’d budgeted for individual payments.
The state suit also accused Navient of:
Steering borrowers having financial trouble into forbearance instead of repayment options and loan-forgiveness programs, causing unnecessary accrual of interest, the addition of interest to the principal and lost months of timely payments that would have otherwise counted toward loan forgiveness;
Failing to inform borrowers of deadlines to recertify their eligibility for certain income-driven repayment plans – the consequences of which included boosting their monthly payments and causing other financial damages when their plans unnecessarily expired;
Enticing borrowers to take out private student loans with a family member or someone else as cosigner, then making it exceedingly difficult to have the cosigner released from any obligations.
On October 20, 2021, Navient’s contract to service 5.6 million loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education was transferred to Maximus/AidVantage, Bruck said Thursday. Following completion of this transfer, Navient will continue to service its existing portfolio of private student loans and legacy Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans issued before the FFEL program ended in 2010, he said.
New Jersey borrowers who are having issues with their student loans that they are unable to resolve with their student loan servicers can file a complaint by calling 1-800-446-7467 or online by completing a banking formal complaint form by clicking “Consumer Assistance – Inquiries/Complaints” here: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/consumer.htm
One of the nation’s largest student loan servicers has agreed to relieve $1.85 billion in loan debt to help settle a blockbuster lawsuit filed by 38 states and the District of Columbia, authorities announced Thursday.
Under the terms of the settlement, Navient Corp and its subsidiary Navient Solutions LLC will make restitution payments of roughly $260 each to 350,000 borrowers, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said.
It will also cancel more than $1.7 billion in subprime private student loans owed by 66,000 or so borrowers nationwide, he said.
The settlement includes approximately $57.2 million in debt relief to 2,040 New Jersey borrowers and $3.1 million in restitution payments to 11,522 other Garden State residents, Bruck said. The state itself will also receive $3 million, he said.
The borrowers who will receive restitution or forgiveness “span all generations,” the attorney general said.
Navient’s “harmful conduct impacted everyone from students who enrolled in colleges and universities immediately after high school to mid-career students who dropped out after enrolling in a for-profit school in the early 2000s,” he said.
Parents or grandparents who co-signed their children or grandchildren’s subprime loans will also receive relief, Bruck said.
“Student loan borrowers who thought college would be a path to success instead found themselves on the road to financial ruin as a result of Navient’s unlawful conduct,” said Sean P. Neafsey, the acting director of New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs. “The settlement announced today holds Navient accountable for its unconscionable conduct and provides meaningful financial relief to the borrowers harmed by it.”
******
NOTE: Borrowers in the affected 38 states and D.C. don’t need to take any action to receive the benefits required under the settlement, authorities said. Consumers receiving private loan debt cancellation will receive a notice from Navient, and they will receive refunds of any payments made after June 30, 2021, they said.
New Jersey borrowers who are eligible for a restitution payment will automatically receive a restitution check of approximately $260 from the Attorney General’s settlement administrator in mid-2022. To ensure the settlement administrator can find you, federal loan borrowers who may be eligible for a restitution payment are encouraged to update their contact information in their studentaid.gov account or create an account if they do not already have one.
******
From 1989 to 2016, the average cost of obtaining a degree from a four-year college or university in the United States rose about eight times as fast as the average wage, statistics show.
Faced with the soaring cost of higher education, more than 44 million people Americans have outstanding student loans totaling now more than $1.75 trillion nationwide, Bruck said.
The average New Jersey borrower carries $35,730 in student debt — among the highest in the country — according to some sources, the attorney general said.
Student loan servicers are a “critical link between borrowers and lenders,” he said. “In addition to managing borrowers’ accounts and processing their monthly payments, student loan servicers are responsible for assisting financially struggling borrowers to enroll in alternative repayment plans or request a modification of loan terms from lenders.”
Navient, formerly known as Sallie Mae, was one of the nation’s largest servicers of both federal and private student loans until partially exiting the business in September 2021, Bruck said.
By then, its student loan origination and servicing business had severely screwed young borrowers, deliberately fooling some of them into paying back more money than was due at the time by lying about the amounts, he said.
Navient “engaged in unconscionable commercial practices, deceptive conduct, and misrepresentations when servicing thousands of New Jersey consumers’ student loans over the past decade – boosting company profits at the expense of struggling borrowers,” Bruck said.
The consequences of its conduct likely had the greatest impact on borrowers who could least afford it, he said.
A study by the New York Federal Reserve found that borrowers in black-majority zip codes were more likely to borrow to fund their education, the attorney said. They also have higher average loan balances and default at almost double the rate of white-majority zip code borrowers, the study found.
Among the other findings:
borrowers who received Pell Grants — most of whom have family incomes below $40,000 — were five times as likely to default within 12 years;
borrowers whose parents did not attend college were more than twice as likely to default than borrowers whose parents did attend college;
borrowers who began their education at for-profit colleges defaulted at seven times the rate of those who attended public colleges.
New Jersey officials filed their suit in October 2020 in Essex County, accusing Navient Corp. and Navient Solutions LLC of “deceptive and unconscionable tactics at various times over the last decade” in violation of New Jersey consumer protection laws.
This included training Navient employees to “collect more than the past due amount by using language that misled borrowers about how much they owed,” the division reportedly. “Specifically, Navient sought to collect not only the delinquent amount but also the next month’s payment by misleadingly calling the amount sought the ‘Present Amount Due.’
The result: Borrowers were forced into paying hundreds of dollars more than they’d budgeted for individual payments.
The state suit also accused Navient of:
Steering borrowers having financial trouble into forbearance instead of repayment options and loan-forgiveness programs, causing unnecessary accrual of interest, the addition of interest to the principal and lost months of timely payments that would have otherwise counted toward loan forgiveness;
Failing to inform borrowers of deadlines to recertify their eligibility for certain income-driven repayment plans – the consequences of which included boosting their monthly payments and causing other financial damages when their plans unnecessarily expired;
Enticing borrowers to take out private student loans with a family member or someone else as cosigner, then making it exceedingly difficult to have the cosigner released from any obligations.
On October 20, 2021, Navient’s contract to service 5.6 million loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education was transferred to Maximus/AidVantage, Bruck said Thursday. Following completion of this transfer, Navient will continue to service its existing portfolio of private student loans and legacy Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans issued before the FFEL program ended in 2010, he said.
New Jersey borrowers who are having issues with their student loans that they are unable to resolve with their student loan servicers can file a complaint by calling 1-800-446-7467 or online by completing a banking formal complaint form by clicking “Consumer Assistance – Inquiries/Complaints” here: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/consumer.htm
Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act Codifies Reproductive Choice into State Law
January 13, 2022
TEANECK – Governor Phil Murphy, alongside Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and Alexis McGill Johnson, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and many other legislative sponsors and advocates, today signed the historic Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act (S49/A6260), which codifies the constitutional right to freedom of reproductive choice in New Jersey. Governor Murphy also signed S413/A4698, which expands the contraception coverage required under private insurance and Medicaid from a 6-month supply to a 12-month supply.
These laws expand and protect reproductive freedom in New Jersey at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to limit or overturn the ruling in Roe v. Wade. With this legislation, if Roe v. Wade were overturned, the right to reproductive choice would be protected in New Jersey.
“In New Jersey, we trust each individual person to make their reproductive choices for themselves,” said Governor Murphy. “With Roe v. Wade under attack, today’s historic legislation makes clear that New Jersey’s position in supporting the right to reproductive choice remains protected. Together, with expanding contraception coverage, these two pieces of legislation serve to meaningfully and tangibly increase access to reproductive health care, and ensure that New Jersey residents are now, and will remain, in control of their reproductive choices.”
“Reproductive health and the ability for women to make medical decisions about their own bodies are fundamental rights that should never be taken away. Today, we are codifying those rights into law in New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver. “I want to thank the legislators who have championed this bill and Governor Murphy for signing it into law. Women’s rights are human rights and will always be respected and protected in New Jersey.”
“Today is a historic day for reproductive health in the Garden State,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “By ensuring that reproductive health decisions — about birth control, abortion, and pregnancy — are protected in state law, New Jersey has taken an important step forward for reproductive freedom. We are grateful for the constant advocacy by the governor, legislative champions, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, the Thrive New Jersey Coalition, and more to ensure the state met the moment and secured access to essential health care in the state. At a time when access to reproductive health care is under attack across the country, New Jersey has shown what it means to stand up for its residents. Planned Parenthood is eager to continue working to ensure that abortion is not only a right, but accessible for all New Jerseyans, regardless of their immigration status, insurance coverage, or income.”
Primary sponsors for S49/A6260 include former Senate Majority Leader Weinberg, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Senators Greenstein and Gopal. Assembly sponsors include former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and Assemblymembers Mila Jasey and Raj Mukherji.
“With a woman’s right to choose under Roe v. Wade under attack in the U.S. Supreme Court, it is critical that we have enacted legislation rooted in the New Jersey Constitution that clearly and unequivocally protects freedom of reproductive choice, including the right to access contraception, the right to terminate a pregnancy, and the right to carry a pregnancy to term,” said former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who was the lead sponsor of the bill.
“January 22nd is the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. With the enactment of S49 into law, the Legislature and the Governor are sending a clear message to the nation that in New Jersey, a woman’s right to choose is, and will remain, a fundamental right,” said former Senate President Steve Sweeney, a prime sponsor of the bill. “I was proud to join Senator Weinberg in fighting to ensure that the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act would become law.”
“Enacting the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act into statute will help protect the reproductive rights of women in New Jersey against the potential reversal by the United States Supreme Court. It is rooted in the State Constitution, consistent with decisions by the New Jersey Supreme Court and written to safeguard the fundamental right of women to make their own decisions on reproductive care. We will not allow these rights to be lost to forces outside the state that run counter to the core beliefs of the people of New Jersey, including the principle of equal treatment for women by insurance companies. Coverage for contraceptives should be granted the same level of importance as other prescriptions. These laws enshrine protections and make progress for women in New Jersey,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari.
“The Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act is a comprehensive bill that guarantees women will continue to have the right to make their own personal decisions on their reproductive care, regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules,” said Senator Linda Greenstein.
“A person’s right of reproductive choice, in effect a right of control over one’s own body, remains a fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution,” said Senator Vin Gopal. “This law, the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, will protect this basic freedom under New Jersey statute and ensure individual choice on when and whether to have children in a time and place that is compatible with their lifestyles and beliefs. Self-determination is one of the founding principles of this state and this nation. That principle should and must extend to any person in New Jersey regarding reproductive rights.”
“Everyone has the right to reproductive choice, yet there have been far too many attempts throughout our country to control the decisions a person can make in that regard. Legal challenges to the reproductive rights of Americans, which have steadily increased in recent years, threaten to limit access to family planning services. This act will promote the health and well-being of the people in our state while showing the country that New Jersey stands for compassion, dignity and freedom,” said Assemblymembers Vainieri Huttle, Jasey, and Mukherji.
Primary sponsors for S413/A4698 include Senators Shirley Turner and Teresa Ruiz, as well as former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and Assemblymembers Mila Jasey and Raj Mukherji.
“With a woman’s right to safely choose to end an unwanted pregnancy now being threatened, we must counter that threat by putting the policies in place that help to protect the health of women,” said Senator Shirley Turner. “This law will make it easier for women to access contraceptives to prevent pregnancy from happening in the first place, which is one of the best ways to help women maintain control over their own bodies and their lives.”
“Many other medications are available to order long term supplies to ensure individuals are able to take them without interruption. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not always willing to cover a 12-month supply of birth control,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “There is no reason contraceptives should not be granted the same level of importance as other prescriptions. This law will ensure residents are able to get their medication in a manner that is conducive to their schedule.”
“Prescription contraceptives safeguard the mental and physical health of countless women by giving them more control over their lives,” said former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji. “Ensuring coverage of these prescriptions for up to 12 months will allow more New Jerseyans to prepare ahead. Making it easier and more likely for women to access birth control is a crucial component of the family planning services our state is taking steps to protect.”
“Access to reproductive health care and a woman’s right to choose are fundamental rights in New Jersey,” said New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Now more than ever, the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act is crucial.”
“Today’s historic legislation affirms the dignity and bodily autonomy of every New Jerseyan,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Further, expanding access to and affordability of reproductive health care, including contraception, is an essential part of our efforts to solve our state’s maternal health crisis. I am incredibly proud to see New Jersey take this important step forward.”
“With Governor Murphy’s signature today, New Jersey reaffirmed and protected the right to abortion,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha. “In light of ongoing attacks on reproductive rights across the country, codifying a declaration of strong, unwavering rights is crucial. However, far too many New Jerseyans remain unable to access this fundamental right. We urge our state’s leaders, through legislation and regulatory action, to not only affirm reproductive freedom, but make it truly accessible by lifting financial barriers to ensure we do not leave any communities behind.”
“Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey applauds the strong declaration of reproductive rights in S49/A6260, as well as the expansion of birth control access through S413/A4698,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. “This new legislation ensures decisions about contraception, abortion, and carrying a pregnancy to term are protected in state statute. This is a day of celebration in New Jersey. The work is far from over, and we look forward to continuing our advocacy alongside Governor Murphy to ensure that every New Jerseyan can access the reproductive health care they need.”
“If we are to achieve equality of the sexes, we must trust women and allow them to control their reproductive cycles without governmental interference,” said Anjali Mehrotra, President, National Organization for Women of New Jersey. “Access to comprehensive reproductive health care allows women to plan out their lives, enabling them to pursue education and career opportunities, which leads to increased workforce attachment and wages over time. The codification of the right to abortion in statute is good for women, it is good for families, it is good for business, it is good for New Jersey.”
“Abortion care is just as much about economic justice as it is about reproductive freedom,” said Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective. “The reality is that, for far too many families, carrying an unplanned pregnancy can have devastating financial consequences. One’s future plans are put at risk, like going to college or building a career. It’s no surprise that those who cannot access this time-sensitive care are more likely to live in poverty, raise children alone, and struggle to afford basic needs. We thank Governor Murphy and the bill sponsors for taking a stand in support of reproductive autonomy, and we look forward to working with the administration on ways to improve access to abortion care for all.”
“BlueWaveNJ celebrates New Jersey’s passage of the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act,” said Marcia Marley, President of BlueWave. “It is a strong statement guaranteeing the full range of reproductive rights, including abortion, passed at a time when other states are eliminating or threatening these rights. We are deeply grateful to Governor Murphy, his staff, and legislators –particularly Senator Loretta Weinberg– for their tenacity in the negotiations. Does this bill have everything New Jersey needs? No, but it represents an important and essential foundation we can build on. BlueWaveNJ looks forward to continuing to work with the administration and the legislature to ensure that everyone in our state can access and afford all reproductive services.”
“The National Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey Sections, (NCJW-NJ) applaud the passage of S49/A6260, Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which codifies in statute the full array of reproductive rights, including abortion, and thanks Governor Murphy for his steadfast support,” said the National Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey Sections. “While personal autonomy and decision-making is a priority, so is the care of others to ensure that their access to these rights is unimpeded. To this end, NCJW- NJ looks forward to working with the Governor and all legislators to pass needed equity and access provisions.”
“As independent abortion providers who have served our community for over forty years, and now, through a pandemic, Cherry Hill Women’s Center recognizes that the passage of the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act is a historic moment for the people in our state, the patients who we care for every day. Today, New Jerseyans who can become pregnant will no longer question our right to make fundamental decisions about our health, our lives, and our futures,” said Roxanne Sutocky, Director of Community Engagement for Cherry Hill Women’s Center. “Every day our fierce and fearless team of dedicated caregivers provides excellent abortion services and are called to guide our patients as they navigate the financial and logistical barriers blocking their ability to exercise their reproductive rights. We appreciate the efforts of the legislature and the Governor to pass this historic legislation and we call on these representatives to do more to eliminate the remaining barriers which fall hardest on people working to make ends meet, people living in rural areas, undocumented people, and LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities disproportionately impacted by systemic racism and reproductive oppression.”
Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and the Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that New Jersey student loan borrowers will receive over $60 million in relief from a settlement with Navient Corp. and its subsidiary Navient Solutions LLC (Navient) that resolves a 2020 lawsuit filed by the State against the student loan servicing giant.
Officials said the State’s lawsuit alleged that Navient engaged in unconscionable commercial practices, deceptive conduct, and misrepresentations when servicing thousands of New Jersey consumers’ student loans over the past decade – boosting company profits at the expense of struggling borrowers.
The Navient settlement includes approximately $57.2 million in debt relief and $3.1 million in restitution payments to New Jersey borrowers and a $3 million fee to the State.
New Jersey’s settlement is part of a nationwide settlement of claims by 38 States and the District of Columbia alleging widespread abuses in Navient’s student loan origination and servicing business. The total value of the nationwide settlement is approximately $1.85 billion.
Navient, formerly known as Sallie Mae, was one of the nation’s largest federal and private student loans servicers until partially exiting the business in September 2021. Student loan servicers are a critical link between borrowers and lenders.
In addition to managing borrowers’ accounts and processing their monthly payments, student loan servicers are responsible for assisting financially struggling borrowers to enroll in alternative repayment plans or request a modification of loan terms from lenders.
“Too many New Jerseyans have struggled to pay off their student loans,” said Acting Attorney General Bruck. “And too many of those borrowers have had a harder time because their student loan servicer put corporate profits above their best interests. With today’s settlement, we are holding one of the country’s largest student loan servicers accountable, and we are putting millions of dollars back in our residents’ pockets.”
From 1989 to 2016, the average cost of obtaining a degree from a four-year college or university in the United States rose about eight times as fast as the average wage. Faced with the soaring cost of higher education, over 44 million people in the United States have taken out student loans.
Total student loan debt is now more than $1.75 trillion nationwide, and the average New Jersey borrower carries $35,730 in student debt, among the highest in the country, according to some sources.
Statistics show that certain groups of borrowers are particularly at risk.
In 2019, the New York Federal Reserve found that borrowers in Black-majority zip codes are more likely to borrow to fund their education, have higher average loan balances, and fall into default at almost double the rate of white-majority zip code borrowers.
Moreover, the findings show that borrowers who received Pell Grants—most of whom have family incomes below $40,000—were five times as likely to default within 12 years; borrowers whose parents did not attend college were more than twice as likely to default than borrowers whose parents did attend college; and borrowers who began their education at for-profit colleges defaulted at seven times the rate of those who attended public colleges.
“Student loan borrowers who thought college would be a path to success instead found themselves on the road to financial ruin as a result of Navient’s unlawful conduct,” said Sean P. Neafsey, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.
“Navient’s failure to provide fair and honest services to New Jersey borrowers violated consumer protection laws and heaped more debt on individuals who could least afford it. The settlement announced today holds Navient accountable for its immoral conduct and provides meaningful financial relief to the borrowers harmed by it.”
In its civil suit against Navient, the State alleged that instead of fulfilling its legal obligation to student loan borrowers, Navient put its financial self-interests first through deceptive and unconscionable tactics that at various times over the last decade have included:
Steering borrowers into forbearance instead of income-driven repayment plans better suited to their financial circumstances. Instead of taking the time (and incurring the operational expense) to assist borrowers experiencing long-term financial hardship choose the most appropriate loan repayment option for them, such as those setting monthly payments based on what they could afford to pay, Navient’s call center representatives steered borrowers toward forbearance—usually a costlier option for such borrowers than income-driven repayment plans. Navient incentivized its call center representatives to adopt this approach because it allowed representatives to handle calls more quickly, at less cost to the company. As a result, borrowers steered into forbearance suffered consequences, including the unnecessary accrual of interest, the addition of interest to the principal, and the loss of months of timely payments that would have otherwise counted toward loan forgiveness.
Failing to inform borrowers of deadlines to recertify their eligibility for specific income-driven repayment plans. Borrowers in income-driven repayment plans typically must recertify their eligibility annually. Navient failed to communicate to borrowers the deadline to recertify their eligibility and the consequences of non-renewal. As a result, many student loan borrowers’ repayment plans expired unnecessarily, resulting in immediate increases in their monthly payments and other financial harm.
Enticing borrowers to take out private student loans with a cosigner and then making it exceedingly difficult to obtain a cosigner release. For loans originated by Navient, the company deceptively encouraged borrowers to have family members or others guarantee their loans as cosigners, which increased Navient’s chances of being repaid if the student defaulted. Navient then set various hurdles to make it difficult for borrowers to meet the company’s requirements for releasing a cosigner from a loan, which benefited Navient by maintaining additional payment sources if a borrower failed to pay.
Misleading borrowers about the amount of their delinquency. Navient employees were trained to collect more than the past due amount from borrowers behind on their loans by using language that misled borrowers about how much they owed. Specifically, Navient sought to collect not only the delinquent amount but also the next month’s payment by misleadingly calling the amount sought the “Present Amount Due.” This practice resulted in borrowers paying hundreds of dollars a month more than a borrower may have budgeted for the payment.
Under the settlement terms, Navient will make a total of $95 million in restitution payments of about $260 each to approximately 350,000 harmed consumers in the 39 jurisdictions, and it will cancel more than $1.7 billion in subprime private student loans owed by approximately 66,000 borrowers nationwide.
Borrowers who will receive restitution or forgiveness span all generations: Navient’s harmful conduct impacted everyone from students who enrolled in colleges and universities immediately after high school to mid-career students who dropped out after enrolling in a for-profit school in the early 2000s. Parents or grandparents who co-signed their children or grandchildren’s subprime loans will also receive relief.
Approximately 2,040 New Jersey borrowers will receive a total of $57,234,256 in debt cancellation and another 11,522 New Jersey borrowers will receive a total of $3,071,421 in restitution payments.
The settlement also requires Navient to notify borrowers of the Department of Education’s essential changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which offers millions of qualifying public servants a waiver that may count past payments towards loan forgiveness. The Attorney General encourages all New Jersey residents who work in the government or non-profit sectors to review the PSLF website to determine whether they might qualify for loan forgiveness.
On October 20, 2021, Navient’s contract to service 5.6 million loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education was transferred to Maximus/AidVantage. After completing this transfer, Navient will continue to service its existing portfolio of private student loans and legacy Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans issued before the FFEL program ended in 2010.
Acting Attorney General Bruck filed the settlement as a proposed Consent Judgment today inSuperior Court in Essex County. The settlement will require court approval.
Consumers do not need to take any action to receive the benefits required under the settlement. Consumers receiving private loan debt cancellation will receive a notice from Navient, and they will receive refunds of any payments made after June 30, 2021.
Consumers eligible for a restitution payment will automatically receive a restitution check of approximately $260 from the Attorney General’s settlement administrator in mid-2022.
To ensure the settlement administrator can find you, federal loan borrowers eligible for a restitution payment are encouraged to update their contact information in their studentaid.gov account or create an account if they do not already have one.
A Jersey Shore resident who left the scene of an accident where a pedestrian later died has been arrested and charged.
Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill announced Wednesday that 25-year old Matthew Cademartori of Northfield has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident last Saturday in Absecon.
The accident occurred in the early Saturday morning hours and Absecon Police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Crash Investigations Unit learned that Cademartori was heading eastbound on the White Horse Pike at the time he allegedly struck Talmadge Franklin, 67, of Absecon who had been walking eastbound at the time he was hit by the car.
Cademartori then fled the scene of the crash, Acting Prosecutor Shill said, and was placed under arrest at his home two days later.
He was charged with second degree Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash.
Cademartori was then brought to the Absecon Police Department, was processed and then brought to the Atlantic County Justice Facility where he remains, pending a detention hearing.
Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson is representing he state in this case.
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