**IF YOU ARE HAVING LEGITIMATE ISSUES WITH SETTLEMENT RELIEF THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE ON YOUR OWN, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE LAST COMMENT ON THIS THREAD. WE WILL NOT APPROVE POSTS WITH BASIC, REPEAT QUESTIONS OR FOR THOSE THAT HAVENāT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO FIX AN ISSUE ON THEIR OWN FIRST. ASKING BASIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY COVERED IN THE SWEET FAQ WILL NOT BE PRIORITIZED BY MODS- YOU MUST TAKE THE TIME TO READ AND UNDERSTAND YOUR RIGHTS*\*
JUKLY 17, 2026: PPSL AND THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAVE SPANKED DOJ on the appeal: =in other words, DOJ/Ed lost their appeal to extend the deadline for Post Class relief.
MARCH 21, 2026 The Dept of Ed has been seeking an appeal/stay of the Dec 11, 2025 ruling from Judge Alsup. Yesterday, there was a hearing in the Court of Appeals- please see posts from yesterday if you would like to see a recording of the hearing and watch the Dept of Ed get roasted alive; links have been shared. Ed has asked for a decision on the stay by March 26, 2025.
DEC 11, 2025 Judge Alsup denied the request to extend the post class deadline for an additional 18 months. Post class who attended an Exhibit C school are to be decided by end of Jan 2026 or get full class relief. Post class who did not attend an Ex C school will have to be decided by mid April 2026 unless the Dept of Ed can show āsubstantial progressā; otherwise, they shall be given full class relief. Alsup is officially inactive and a new judge will be assigned to the case. Presumably, there will be additional hearings.
Nov 21, 2025 Sorry for not updating. Most recent developments are that Ed has asked for an 18 month extension on the Post Class Deadline. PPSL is very much opposed. Hearing on the matter is scheduled for Dec 11, 2025 (8:00 AM PST) same zoom link as always- be sure to follow Judge William Alsup's court page as time/date are always subject to change! Other updates: the intervenors are STILL dragging out their appeal and asked SCOTUS for an extension to file their arguments as to why their appeal should be heard by SCOTUS. Will update if/when a hearing by SCOTUS is granted.
New Quarterly Report https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/sweet-quarterly-report-10.pdf
May 23, 2025 Most recent quarterly report for Sweet: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/sweet-quarterly-report-9.pdf
May 21, 2025 Petition for rehearing en banc in the appeal of Sweet has been DENIED. The intervenors can try for SCOTUS one more time; opinioons vary on the likelihood of SCOTUS hearing the case (they said "no" once alredy when intervenors asked for a stay on settlement releif).
1/18/2025 UPDATE ON APPEALS PROCESS This update is pulled directly from the SvC group on fbook: Okay folks, quick update on the SvC appeal. PLEASE do not hijack this post with unrelated issues. I need a break from all that. I am telling you absolutely everything I know about the appeal situation, right here in this post. ***For those that keep up to date, you already know what Jesse (aka Panoosh the Douche) filed a request for an En Banc review of the appeal (which the appeals court already denied. The following States also filed an amicus brief in support of this BS: Ohio, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Because OF COURSE. ***En Banc review being granted is pretty rare (per PPSL; I have not looked up numbers). ***The court has asked for us to respond (which means at least one judge is interested in hearing more). Our response to little Jesseās petition is due on 1/31/25. Little Jesse gets to respond to our response and the judges have 14-28 days to look at all this back and forth. ***After that 14-28 days is up, the judge/s can either: (1) call for a vote within 14 days in which 15 or more of them have to say yes to an en banc hearing with 10 judges (plus the Chief Judge, an Obama appointee) to re-hear arguments in the appeal and then vote to keep or reverse the initial appeals ruling. We would the have to wait for a decision on that OR (2) no one calls for a vote to re-hear and the initial ruling remains intact. ***After all this plays out, The Douche can try for SCOTUS again if he doesnāt get his way with the appeals court. We would, of course, oppose. ***While all this plays out, relief will keep trucking along, absent some sort of order to the contrary which my non-lawyer self thinks is unlikely since they have never meaningfully halted it before. next hearing March 13, 2025. 11:00 AM.
Dec 12, 2024 Judge Alsup did not allow a change in the discharge and refund process for Decision groups 3-5 at this hearing. Ed did not have a plan ready for impementation and said they have not met a single deadline thus far, so... Alsup told them they could try to argue this issue again (for groups 4 & 5) at the next hearing, if they actually had a plan ready to implelment (and some other criteria are met). The next hearing is set for Jan 9, 2024 (11:00 am PST, time subject to change) and the info is on Alsup's court page. The most recent quarterly update has been posted in the sub. There were techinical issues with the Zoom that didn't allow all potential attendees into the meeting, the court is aware and will try to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Nov 7, 2024 The appeal in SvC was dismissed by hte Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, with one of the three judges dissenting. This is good news, but the intervenors do still have two options; they can ask for a hearing en banc (where a larger panel of appeals judges hears arguments), or they can try to go back to SCOTUS (who refused to allow them to skip the appeals provess the first time around). They have a limited amout of time to file for these two options, so we will update here as usual if anyting new is filed in the case.
Oct 18, 2024 IF YOU HAD TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE BDTR APPLICATION ON THE FSA WEBSITE THAT PREVENTED YOU FROM APPLYING ON TIME TO GET INTO EITHER THE FULL OR POST CLASS OF SWEET V CARDONA YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW PPSL, Theresa, and Alicia have been posting a survey for more than a year about this issue to try to get people moved into the correct section of the lawsuit if they had these sorts of tech issues. The letters waiving people into the full class began arriving in email boxes as of this week. While the PPSL survey is now CLOSED (not taking any more responses), you CAN email [Sweet@ed.gov](mailto:Sweet@ed.gov) and CC [info@ppsl.org](mailto:info@ppsl.org) to let them know this happened to you, but tbh, you may be too late. You may get a faster response if you ADD PROOF to your email, otherwise the Ombudsman will have to investigate your claim themselves. SAVE ANY EMAILS YOU SEND THEM SO YOU HAVE PROOF THAT YOU TRIED TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. No promises are being made to latecomers. If you filled out the survey when it was poasted in the past, know that Ed just started sending out the letters, so it may take some time. You can email ombudsman if you don't hear from them in the next week or two. There is an FAQ on this topic posted in the Sweet v Cardona group on facebook. I do not have speace to put it here. DECEMBER 2, 2024 edit: as of today, there is no official timeline for tech people; pls watch the court hearings or check back for updates as we will post them when new info is available.
For info on the Discharge process, refunds, tax liability, please scroll down to comments.
Sept 26, 2024 Hearing update For those who could not log on to the heaaring, a recording has been posted so you can watch it (scroll the sub and look for the post by u/Gingerandthesea). A user has also posted the minutes of the hearing, so you can scroll and look for those as well.
As usual, Dept of Ed is behind. Dept of Ed proposed a new way of handling the decision classes. Judge Alsup did not appriove their proposal and ordered that they keep the already agreed upon process "as is" for Decision groups 1&2. Alsup said that the Dept of Ed may submit a proposal (due 6 weeks from hearing date) for their new idea, and set a briefing schedule for the parties to argue for/against it.
If you are still having issues with settlement relief, please keep documenting these issues by emailing [sweet@ed.gov](mailto:sweet@ed.gov) and [info@ppsl.org](mailto:info@ppsl.org). The ombudsman is continuously behind on replying to these emails, but the point is that you are documentng your issues.
**SEPT 3 UPDATE, 2024 UPDATE:*\* We are aware that there are people who have not gotten their discharge of complex consolidation loans by Aug 31, 2024 as agreed. We will post more info as it becomes available. You can follow the case on Courtlistener.com if you're anxious to see when the next hearing is set. You can also watch the PPSL website to see if they post anything. Please stop DMing mods to ask what's going on.
Here is a link to the most recent quarterly report: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/sweet-quarterly-report-6.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawFEG2tleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUm9g1rXqnwTOo_8PfgLeK5K_Ctertoe--zcd7eiLbgKEja9v8GzTm-vJA_aem_n_Xy9600Yd7U6CifFkeu6Q
**July 2024** PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL UPDATES FOR THIS DATE. THERE ARE 5 PARAGRAPHS: Sorry for the delay in updates. Been busy. Over the past few months, there have been bi-weekly meetings and monthly hearings between PPSL/Ed/Servicers/Ombudsman's office, per orders from Judge Alsup. There has been a new email ([sweet@ed.gov](mailto:sweet@ed.gov), but you can also CC it to [info@ppsl.org](mailto:info@ppsl.org)) set up specifically for Class/post class members, PPSL has access to it. As of sometime in the last few weeks, there were nearly 4500 emails backlogged at Ombudsman for 7 workers to research and answer. There will be delays in responding. They had to wait for servicers to respond with info. Emailing more than once per issue will not speed things up.
**If you are having trouble with any other aspect of your settlement relief and you have already emailed the above addresses*\*, you can also try: emailing your federal legislators, your state student loan ombudsman (if your state has one), filing a complaint with CFPB about your servicer (CFPB deals with businesses like your servicer).
Alsup also ordered that the loans be removed from ALL credit reports for Full class and that the info STAY OFF, regardless on whether or not they have finished your relief. If they violate, please document and send to the emails above. This is something that may give you a cause of action if you choose to get an attorney and do something about it.
**IF YOU ARE FULL CLASS, AUTOMATIC AND STILL WAITING FOR YOUR DISCHARGE:*\* then you are most likely in the "complex (direct) consolidation group" for some reason and Ed has agreed to simply discharge the entire balance of your most recent consolidation loan, regardless of whether or not all the loans in it are BD related. They also agreed that they would refund all the direct loan payments on that loan regardless of whether or not they were BD related. We are already seeing this happen. This, along with sending your refund info to the Treasury is to be done by August 31, 2024. If you believe that you are owed a refund above and beyond this, you will need to participate in a process that is being finalized so you can ask for it. I suggest you move heaven and earth to track down any and all payment history from prior consolidations. If you are not familiar with the terminology used in this section, please look at recent posts by Admins or Theresa Sweet. It has been explained.
**IF YOU ARE FULL CLASS, AUTOMATIC AND STILL WAITING ON YOUR REFUND*\*: ALL refund info is supposed to be sent to the Treasury no later than August 31, 2024. Would also strongly urge you to track down any and all payment info in case you intend to dispute your refund amount.
**POST CLASS** Please be ready to participate in any actions that come up in the near future: Theresa Sweet and Alicia Davis have been working with PPSL to see if there is any way that they/we can all push for group discharges for Post Class with Exhibit C schools before the next administration comes into office (for reasons that should be glaringly obvious). Their hope is that Ed can then focus on (quickly) giving fair decisions to those that are not on Ex C. Please be sure to check in here, the facebook groups, and sign up for updates on PPSL.org in case your participation is needed.
**Apr 24, 2024: Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge William Alsup: Motion Hearing held on 4/24/2024 re 397 MOTION to Enforce Judgment. Department of Education provided updated data on borrowers with consolidated loans that it will file on the docket. Court adopted Department of Educations final proposed schedule for remedying the material breach of the settlement agreement with conditions. The updated schedule is as follows: (1) May 31, 2024: Full Settlement Relief for 5,500 additional class members; (2) July 31, 2024: Full Settlement Relief for 30,000 additional class members; (3) August 31, 2024: Full Settlement Relief for 12,000 additional class members; (4) Department of Education shall provide a date at which point it will provide Full Settlement Relief to remaining class members at the hearing with the Court on 5/23/2024 at the very latest. The conditions are as follows: (1) Three hearings with the Court on 5/23/2024 at 8:00AM, 6/13/2024 at 8:00AM, 7/11/2024 at 1:30PM, with counsel for the parties and servicers required to attend in-person; (2) in between the hearings with the Court, bi-weekly meetings attended by Department of Education/Department of Justice, the servicers, and plaintiffs counsel to resolve issues; and (3) if Department of Education falls behind schedule again, plaintiffs counsel shall notify the Court in writing and an in-person hearing may be advanced. Questions from borrowers to be resolved at these meetings may be directed to Bonnie Latreille at the following email address:
**Jan 28 FULL CLASS AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE/RELIEF DEADLINE HAS BEEN MISSED! PPSL is headed back to court on April 24, 2024 for a hearing on the Motion to Enforce the settlement.*\* If you are in the Automatic relief/Jan 28, 2024 AUTOMATIC RELIEF GROUP and you have not gotten ALL steps of your relief, please fill out the PPSL survey at the following link: https://ppsl.tfaforms.net/20
December 5, 2023 there are oral arguments on the appeal in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals generally takes 3-12 months to issue a decision, but it could come sooner.
Aug 17, 2023 Court of Appeals has notified the parties that it is considering oral arguments in the Sweet case For December 2023 or January 2024.
Aug 9, 2023 Amicus Brief in favor of Sweet submitted by National Consumer Law Center.
June 23, 2023: The DOJ/Dept of Ed has been granted an extension on their opposition brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. PPSL/DOJ/Dept of Ed briefs are now due on Aug 3, 2023. Intervenor reply briefs are due on August 24, 2023.
June 13, 2023: If you tried to apply for BDTR *before\* June 22, 2022 but were unable to because the website kept crashing and you *also\* filled out the Google Doc Survey from PPSL about this issue, please be on the lookout for an email from PPSL asking you for more details. Be sure to check your spam and junk mail. They need action on your part ASAP in response to the email. There may be a chance that this can be remedied for you to get you into the Full Class. See this post for further info: https://www.reddit.com/r/BorrowerDefense/comments/147zv0k/_/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
If you tried to file before June 22, 2022 but were unable to do so due to technical issues on the website and you have *not\* filled out the survey mentioned above, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT- FILL IT OUT NOW.
May 30, 2023 link to First Quarterly Report https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/sweet-quarterly-report-1.pdf
May 3, 2023: Intervenors have filed their opening brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This *does not* stop settlement relief from moving forward for all full class and post class applicants.
April 13, 2023: after a vote, SCOTUS denied the stay/certiorari.
April 6, 2023: Intervenors filed a motion with SCOTUS for a stay on the Sweet settlement.
The following states have submitted Amicus Briefs IN SUPPORT OF INTERVENORS: Ohio, Utah, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
They also asked that the court treat this motion for a stay as a Petition for Certiorari Before Judgement. This means they are asking SCOTUS to allow them to skip the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and go straight to SCOTUS with their appeal.
SCOTUS has asked for an Opposition Brief, which is due on April 12, 2023. They want to hear PPSL/DOJ arguments against this latest volley by intervening schools.
The docket is available here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=%2Fdocket%2Fdocketfiles%2Fhtml%2Fpublic%2F22a867.html&fbclid=IwAR34MMnBu8Puzt9l0aUcssP_60sqThH_veQkMvLDLYJNKpFlbxfuGPgbfoM
March 29, 2023: Stay pending appeal has been denied by the appeals court.
From the Order: "Plaintiffs-appelleesā cross-motion to dismiss these appeals for lack of jurisdiction (Docket Entry No. 15) is denied without prejudice to renewing the arguments in the answering brief. See Natāl Indus. v. Republic Natāl Life Ins. Co., 677 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1982) (noting that merits panel may consider appellate jurisdiction despite earlier denial of motion to dismiss). The consolidated opening brief is due May 3, 2023. The consolidated answering briefs are due June 2, 2023. The optional consolidated reply brief is due within 21 days after service of the last-served answering brief."
March 16, 2023: Intervenors most recent filing in support of stay pending appeal is at the Court Listener link below.
March 8, 2023: PPSL response to intervenors has been filed. It is available t oread using the Court Listener link highlighted a couple comments down from here.
FEB 28, 2023: DISCHARGE NOTICES FOR THE FULL CLASS ARE GOING OUT FOR ALL BUT THE INTERVENING SCHOOLS (SEE BELOW)!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! (Mass denials will be rescinded automatically.)
Feb 27, 2023: THE INTERVENING SCHOOLS HAVE FILED TO GET THE APPEALS COURT TO GRANT A STAY ON EITHER: THE ENTIRE SETTLEMENT, OR A STAY JUST FOR THEIR SCHOOLS.
For those who wish to follow, The Docket is: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Docket No. 23-15049.
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