Freeman, et al. v. Quicken Loans, Inc.: Supreme Court Declines To Expand Consumer Protections Beyond Congress’ Exact Words. The Freeman decision demonstrates that administrative agencies cannot expand federal consumer protections beyond the express terms enacted by Congress, which some argue that the CFPB has been attempting to do. Future disputes over CFPB attempts to “add” protections to existing laws (perhaps concerning disparate impact issue related to the Equal Credit Opportunity and Fair Housing Acts) can be expected, and Freeman will be an important weapon for those disagreeing with the agency in such battles.

By Frances Floriano Goins, Esq., Richik Sarkar, Esq. and Erika Imre Schindler, Esq.