PHH filed its reply brief with the D.C. Circuit on April 10 in the en banc rehearing of the PHH case. We have blogged extensively about the case since its inception. Central to the case is whether the CFPB’s single-director-removable-only-for-cause structure is constitutional. Of course, the CFPB fiercely defends its structure, while PHH, the DOJ, and others argue that the CFPB’s structure epitomizes Congressional usurpation of executive power in violation of the constitution’s separation of powers principles.… Continue Reading

The Department of Justice, with the consent of PHH and the CFPB, has filed an unopposed motion with the D.C. Circuit requesting ten minutes of argument time in the oral argument to be held on May 24, 2017 in the rehearing en banc in the PHH case.

The DOJ filed an amicus brief in which it agreed with PHH’s position that the CFPB’s structure is unconstitutional but advocated a more limited remedial measure than PHH is seeking. … Continue Reading

The DOJ submitted its amicus brief in the PHH case on Friday, March 17.  We have blogged extensively about this case since its inception. Unsurprisingly, the Trump DOJ supports striking from Dodd-Frank the removal-only-for-cause protection currently applicable to the director of the CFPB.  In its “view, the panel correctly applied severability principles and therefore properly struck down only the for-cause removal restrictions.” … Continue Reading

On Friday, PHH filed its opening en banc brief with the D.C. Circuit in the rehearing of its appeal of Director Cordray’s June 2015 decision that affirmed an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) recommended decision concluding PHH had violated RESPA and increased the ALJ’s disgorgement award from over $6.4 million to over $109 million. … Continue Reading

The D.C. Circuit has entered an order granting the unopposed motion of the United States for leave to file an amicus brief in PHH by March 17, 2017.  As we previously observed, the motion appears to signal the DOJ’s intention to support PHH rather than the CFPB.

In a second order, the D.C.… Continue Reading

The United States, at the Solicitor General’s request, has filed an “unopposed motion” with the D.C. Circuit for leave to file an amicus brief in PHH by March 17, 2017.  The motion states that both PHH and the CFPB have consented to the motion.

The D.C. Circuit’s order granting the CFPB’s petition for rehearing en banc requires amicus briefs supporting PHH to be filed by March 10 and amicus briefs supporting the CFPB to be filed by March 31. … Continue Reading

PHH has filed a response opposing the motion of the plaintiffs in State National Bank of Big Spring, Texas, et al. v. Lew to intervene in the en banc rehearing.  The D.C. Circuit granted the CFPB’s petition for en banc rehearing on February 16.

In July 2016, the D.C. federal district court rejected the plaintiffs’ attempt in State National Bank of Big Spring to invalidate the actions taken by Director Cordray while he was a recess appointee. … Continue Reading

The D.C. Circuit has entered an order granting the CFPB’s petition for rehearing en banc in the PHH case.  Because the order was issued per curiam, it does not indicate which of the active judges voted to grant the petition but only indicates that Chief Judge Garland did not participate.

The order vacates the panel’s October 2016 judgment, sets a briefing schedule, and sets May 24, 2017 as the date for oral argument.   … Continue Reading

The plaintiffs in State National Bank of Big Spring, Texas, et al. v. Lew have filed a “Motion To Intervene In Any En Banc Proceeding That May Be Granted” in the PHH case.  The motion follows the D.C. federal district court’s denial of the plaintiffs’ attempt to consolidate their case with PHH on appeal to the D.C.… Continue Reading