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Press Release

Class Counsel Announce Filing of Consumer Protection Class Action Lawsuit Over Intrusive Autodialer Calls by Sallie Mae to Borrowers' Cell Phones

Seattle, Washington, February 2, 2010 -- Class counsel announced the filing of a nationwide class action lawsuit against the student-loan giant SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), popularly known as Sallie Mae, over alleged unauthorized autodialer calls to the cell phones of borrowers who took out student loans with the national lender. The class action complaint, entitled Arthur v. SLM Corporation, was filed today in federal district court in Seattle, Washington. It seeks both injunctive relief and money damages.

"Sallie Mae harassed me with dozens of unwanted calls on my cell phone, including calls that woke me up at all hours of the night and often within hours of each other. These unrelenting calls unfortunately corresponded with a time in my life that required great attention to family issues," stated plaintiff and Seattle resident Mark A. Arthur.

"Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ('TCPA') to stop abusive telephone practices by lenders and marketers, and in particular placed strict limits on the use of autodialers to call cell phones," explained Beth E. Terrell of the Seattle law firm Terrell Marshall & Daudt PLLC. "The complaint charges that Sallie Mae has deployed automatic telephone dialing systems to make pre-recorded, non-emergency calls to customers who did not expressly consent to be called on their cell phones within the meaning of the TCPA."

"Nobody should be subjected to repeated, intrusive autodialer calls at all hours from their lender, especially on their cell phones," commented Jonathan D. Selbin of the national plaintiffs' law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. "We hope today's lawsuit brings some relief to borrowers who have enough to worry about these days without receiving harassing calls like these."

"We believe that thousands of borrowers across America may have received numerous and repeated pre-recorded calls from Sallie Mae on their cell phones without their express consent," added David P. Meyer of the Columbus, Ohio law firm of David P. Meyer & Associates Co., LPA. "We are seeking to put a stop to such practices, and also seeking statutory damages for each call to borrowers in violation of the TCPA."

According to publicly available information, Sallie Mae manages over $180 billion in education loans and serves ten million student and parent customers.

Notice To Sallie Mae Customers: You May Submit Your Complaint

Sallie Mae loan holders who originally entered into a student loan with Sallie Mae prior to 2004, and received a pre-recorded phone call to their cellular phone on or after October 27, 2005, without their prior express consent are welcome to submit their complaints to class counsel. Your information will assist counsel in investigating the claims in the case and demonstrating the extent of Sallie Mae's misconduct. Please contact class counsel at lieffcabraser.com/consumer/sallie-mae-tele.htm. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your complaint, and all communications will be kept strictly confidential.

About Terrell Marshall & Daudt PLLC

Terrell Marshall & Daudt PLLC is a Seattle law firm that focuses on complex civil litigation including representing plaintiffs in consumer, product defect, and wage and hour class actions. Visit the firm at www.tmdlegal.com.

About Lieff Cabraser

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a sixty-plus attorney law firm that has represented plaintiffs nationwide since 1972. We have offices in San Francisco, New York, and Nashville. Lieff Cabraser has a comprehensive and diverse practice which includes representing consumers in consumer protection and false advertising class action lawsuits. Since 2003, the National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation. Learn more at www.lieffcabraser.com.

About David P. Meyer & Associates LPA

David P. Meyer & Associates LPA is an AV-rated law firm that devotes its practice to representing investors in claims against the financial industry and consumers in class actions. The firm is based in Columbus, Ohio, and represents investors and consumers nationwide. Learn more at www.dmlaws.com.

Source | Contact

Jonathan D. Selbin
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
212-355-9500
jselbin@lchb.com

Beth E. Terrell
Terrell Marshall & Daudt PLLC
206-816-6603
bterrell@tmdlegal.com

David P. Meyer
David P. Meyer & Associates LPA
614-224-6000
dmeyer@dmlaws.com

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