civil investigative demand

On November 21, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) approved in a 3-0 vote a resolution authorizing the use of compulsory process in nonpublic investigations involving products and services that involve or claim to involve artificial intelligence (AI). 

Compulsory process is akin to a subpoena, and it allows the FTC to request the production of information, documents, or testimony relevant to an investigation. … Continue Reading

A new decision and order from Director Kraninger that, with minor changes, strictly enforces another CFPB civil investigative demand is a further indication that the CFPB’s enforcement activities remain robust under her leadership.  The new order and decision follows five decisions and orders issued by Director Kraninger on April 25 in which she also, with minor changes, strictly enforced five CIDs.… Continue Reading

Consumer advocates have heavily criticized Director Kraninger and former Acting Director Mick Mulvaney for taking a much less aggressive attitude towards enforcement than former Director Cordray.  While there are fewer lawsuits and consent orders under the Kraninger/Mulvaney leadership than under the Cordray leadership, the CFPB’s enforcement activities are still quite robust as exemplified by the five decisions and orders issued by Director Kraninger on April 25 in which she, with minor changes, strictly enforced five separate CFPB civil investigative demands (CIDs). … Continue Reading

In this podcast, we discuss the recently-announced changes to the CFPB’s CID policies, how those changes reflect recent court decisions, and the practical implications of the changes (including their utility to companies in responding to CIDs).

Ciick here to listen to the podcast.… Continue Reading

A recent decision from the Eastern District of Michigan in CFPB v. Harbour Portfolio Advisors, LLC; National Asset Advisors, LLC; and National Asset Mortgage, LLC serves as a reminder that the CFPB’s authority to issue a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) is very broad, particularly when compared to discovery in federal litigation.… Continue Reading

Last week, the D. C. Circuit held oral argument in the CFPB’s appeal from the D.C. federal district court’s April 2016 ruling that the CFPB exceeded its statutory authority when it issued a CID to the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) in August 2015.

After denying ACICS’s petition to modify or set aside the CID in October 2015, the CFPB filed a petition in D.C.… Continue Reading

The CFPB has denied the petition of a lead generation company and its employee to modify or set aside a civil investigative demand (CID).  As we reported, among the petitioners’ arguments for why the CID should be set aside was that the company is neither a “service provider” nor “covered person.” … Continue Reading

Last Friday, the CFPB replied to the arguments made by three tribally-affiliated payday lenders in opposition to the CFPB’s petition in California federal court seeking to enforce the civil investigative demands (CIDs) issued by the CFPB to the lenders.  A hearing on the petition was scheduled for yesterday.   

The lenders argued that, as arms of sovereign tribes, they are not subject to the CFPB’s investigative authority. … Continue Reading

We recently reported that the CFPB has filed a petition in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking to enforce the civil investigative demands (CIDs) it issued in June 2012 to three tribally-affiliated payday lenders.  A hearing on the petition has been scheduled for April 28.

In their joint memorandum of law filed in opposition to the CFPB’s petition, the lenders argue that, as arms of sovereign tribes, they are not subject to the CFPB’s investigative authority. … Continue Reading

The CFPB recently posted to its website a petition filed by CheckSmart Financial Company to modify or set aside a civil investigative demand it received from the Bureau.

According to the petition, the CID was issued in connection with a nonpublic investigation launched by the CFPB “to determine whether payday lenders, check cashers, their affiliates, or other unnamed persons have been or are engaging in unlawful acts or practices in connection with the origination of payday loans and the cashing of payday loan proceeds” in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act. … Continue Reading