The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned the long-standing Chevron Deference Doctrine, saying that judges—not federal agencies—should interpret federal laws.

In a 6-3 decision in two marine fishery cases, the court drastically shifted the balance of power in the federal government, saying that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) gives judges the power, not agencies, to interpret statutes.… Continue Reading

On April 25, 2024, California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”) released its Annual Report of Activity Under the California Consumer Financial Protection Law for 2023 (“Annual Report”). The Annual Report provides an overview of rulemaking, enforcement, oversight, consumer complaints, and education and outreach for the calendar year 2023 and confirms that 2023 was the most active year yet for the DFPI.… Continue Reading

On May 21, 2024, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed into law the Earned Wage Access Services Act (the “Act”), which will require earned wage access (“EWA”) providers to register annually with the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs and meet certain requirements. The Act also provides exemptions from state lending and other requirements for providers.… Continue Reading

On May 17, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) filed suit against an online lending platform, alleging, among other things, the use of dark patterns to induce consumers to pay tips and donations, disclosure violations, and usury violations on loans offered through its lending platform. The complaint, filed in the U.S.… Continue Reading

On May 20, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) sent its annual report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) highlighting its enforcement actions and initiatives in 2023 under the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), Consumer Leasing Act (“CLA”), and Electronic Fund Transfer Act (“EFTA”).

While the Dodd-Frank Act (“Dodd-Frank”) provided the CFPB with rulemaking and enforcement authority over the major consumer financial services laws and regulations, the FTC retained authority to enforce TILA and Regulation Z, CLA and Regulation M, EFTA and Regulation E, and CFPB rules applicable to entities within the FTC’s jurisdiction.… Continue Reading

The result of the CFPB’s multi-year study of the BNPL industry is what the CFPB calls an interpretive rule in which it finds that: (1) “digital user accounts” (each a “DUA”) that may be used to access credit are “credit cards” under Regulation Z; (2) the lenders that issue such accounts are “card issuers;” and (3) that as it relates to traditional BNPL loans (loans that are payable in four or fewer installments with no finance charge) these card issuers are “creditors” subject to subpart B of Regulation Z—the provisions typically applicable to open-end credit.… Continue Reading

On April 17th, the CFPB issued a consent order to a for-profit training school alleging numerous violations of law related to its use if income share agreements (“ISAs”). According to the Bureau, BloomTech, Inc. (“BloomTech”) and the company’s founder and CEO engaged in deceptive and abusive acts or practices, violated the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) and Regulation Z, and violated the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) Holder Rule.… Continue Reading

Last week ended with an intense flurry of activity in the lawsuit challenging the CFPB’s final credit card late fee rule (Rule).  The flurry followed the plaintiffs’ March 25 filing of a Notice of Appeal after the district court denied their motion for expedited consideration of their preliminary injunction motion.  In their Notice of Appeal, the plaintiffs assert that the denial of their motion for expedited consideration effectively denied their request for meaningful preliminary injunctive relief.… Continue Reading

On March 26, 2024, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the CFPB’s final credit card late fee rule (“Final Rule”) filed a Notice Regarding Their Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal and Administrative Stay in the Fifth Circuit. Plaintiffs, who noticed their interlocutory appeal of the federal district court’s “effective denial” of their motion for a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, asked the appeals court to allow the appeal to continue even though the district court has scheduled an April 2, 2024 hearing on their motion for a preliminary injunction.… Continue Reading

On March 20, 2024, the court forcefully denied the motion for expedited consideration of plaintiff’s preliminary injunction motion in the lawsuit challenging the Consumer Financial Bureau’s (“CFPB”) final credit card late fee rule. Plaintiffs, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Bankers Association, and Consumer Bankers Association, had filed the motion just the day before, asking the court to address their request for injunctive relief before determining the venue issue the judge in the case had raised sua sponte on March 18.… Continue Reading