The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday in Axon Enterprise v. Federal Trade Commission (No. 21-86), as to whether federal courts can hear a challenge to the FTC’s constitutionality by a party in an administrative proceeding before the agency has issued a final order. The Court also heard arguments in a similar case, Securities and Exchange Commission v.… Continue Reading
Supreme Court
SCOTUS agrees to decide when a device is an autodialer under the TCPA
Days after missing the opportunity in Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants to limit the improper impact of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act on legitimate businesses, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to tackle the most debated issue in TCPA litigation history. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide what qualifies as an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS).… Continue Reading
Supreme Court invalidates DHS Rescission of DACA Program: Implications for Payday Lenders
In an opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts (the “DACA Opinion”), the Supreme Court has concluded that the rescission of the DACA program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was arbitrary and capricious and hence in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Several clients have asked whether the decision bodes ill for the CFPB’s anticipated rescission of the mandatory underwriting (that is, ability to repay) provisions of its payday lending rule.… Continue Reading
U.S. Supreme Court to decide CFPB’s constitutionality; Ballard Spahr to hold webinar tomorrow, Oct. 22
This past Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it has agreed to decide whether the CFPB’s single-director-removable-only-for-cause structure is constitutional. The Court granted Seila Law’s petition for a writ of certiorari seeking review of the Ninth Circuit’s decision that held the CFPB’s structure is constitutional.
Tomorrow, October 22, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.… Continue Reading
SCOTUS ruling that Eighth Amendment’s excessive fines prohibition applies to states could provide new weapon to consumer financial services providers
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Timbs v. Indiana that the prohibition on excessive fines in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is incorporated against the States by the Fourteenth Amendment. Although it involved a civil asset forfeiture of a vehicle arising from the petitioner’s criminal conviction, the decision could provide a new weapon for consumer financial services providers facing fines and penalties sought by State attorneys general and regulators.… Continue Reading
U.S. Supreme Court Invites Solicitor General’s Views On Whether Certiorari Should Be Granted In Case Involving Standing To Recover Statutory Damages Absent Any Actual Damages
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court invited the Solicitor General to file a brief to express the Obama administration’s views on whether certiorari should be granted in a consumer case involving an important issue of statutory standing. In the case – Spokeo v. Robins – the issue is whether a plaintiff asserting a private cause of action under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act has the requisite injury-in-fact for Article III standing when his complaint alleges no injury other than violation of the statutory right itself.… Continue Reading
CFPB’s counsel helps Solicitor General persuade U.S. Supreme Court to take RESPA case
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that will decide whether the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), which is directed at residential mortgage lending, prohibits a real estate settlement service provider from charging an unearned fee if the provider shares the fee with at least one other part, but not if the provider retains the entire fee.… Continue Reading