Lower E. Side People's Fed. Credit Union v. Trump

289 F. Supp. 3d 568
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedFebruary 1, 2018
Docket17 Civ. 9536 (PGG)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 289 F. Supp. 3d 568 (Lower E. Side People's Fed. Credit Union v. Trump) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lower E. Side People's Fed. Credit Union v. Trump, 289 F. Supp. 3d 568 (S.D. Ill. 2018).

Opinion

PAUL G. GARDEPHE, U.S.D.J.:

In this action, Plaintiff Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union-a non-profit financial cooperative regulated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB")-challenges the legality of President Trump's appointment of Defendant John Michael Mulvaney as Acting Director of the CFPB. (Cmplt. (Dkt. No. 1) ¶¶ 11-12, 14-15)

Plaintiff contends that, under 12 U.S.C. § 5491(b)(5)(B), Leandra English-the Deputy Director of the CFPB-"is the only person permitted under the law to be the Acting Director." (Pltf. Br. (Dkt. No, 10-4) at 8, 29) Defendants argue that the President lawfully exercised his authority under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (the "FVRA"), 5 U.S.C. § 3345 etseq., in naming Mulvaney as Acting Director. (Def. Opp. (Dkt. No. 31) at 26)

The Complaint was filed on December 5, 2017 (Cmplt. (Dkt. No. 1)), and Plaintiff moved for a preliminary injunction on December 12, 2017. (See Proposed Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. No. 10-1)) Defendants have moved to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (Def. Opp. (Dkt. No. 31)) Defendants argue that this action "fails at the outset because Plaintiff has not established Article III standing." (Id. at 12) Defendants contend that "[w]here, as here, a plaintiff does not seek relief from any regulatory burden that imposes costs the plaintiff would avoid if it prevailed, a plaintiff's mere status as a regulated entity does not satisfy the requirements of injury in fact, causation, and redressability." (Id. )

For the reasons stated below, Defendants' motion to dismiss will be granted, and Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction will be denied as moot.

*572BACKGROUND

I. THE HISTORY OF THE CFPB AND THE INSTANT LEADERSHIP DISPUTE

The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 ("Dodd-Frank") established the CFPB as "an independent bureau" to "regulate the offering and provision of consumer financial products or services under the Federal consumer financial laws." 12 U.S.C. § 5491(a). Under Dodd-Frank, the CFPB is headed by a Director appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of five years. 12 U.S.C. § 5491(b)(1)-(2), (c)(1). The Director may be removed by the President, but only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." 12 U.S.C. § 5491(c)(3).

The Senate confirmed Richard Cordray as the first Director of the CFPB on July 16, 2013, and he took office on July 17, 2013. (Cmplt. (Dkt. No. 1) ¶ 29) On November 17, 2017-four years into his five-year term-Director Cordray announced that he would resign by the end of the month. See Renae Merle, Richard Cordray Is Stepping Down as Head of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Wash. Post (November 15, 2017), https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/11/15/richard-cordray-is-stepping-down-as-head-of-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/?utm_term=.197172ea17be.

On November 24, 2017, Director Cordray appointed Leandra English-his chief of staff-to serve as Deputy Director of the CFPB. (Cmplt. (Dkt. No. 1) ¶ 31) Cordray then resigned, effective at midnight. (Id. ¶ 30) In appointing English as Deputy Director, Cordray intended to ensure that she would become Acting Director upon his resignation, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 5491(b)(5). (Id. ¶ 32 (" 'In considering how to ensure an orderly succession for this independent agency,' Director Cordray explained in a statement, 'I have also come to recognize that appointing the current chief of staff to the deputy director position would minimize operational disruption and provide for a smooth transition given her operational expertise.' "))

On the day Cordray resigned, the President issued a memorandum designating Mulvaney as Acting Director of the CFPB:

Pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 3345(a) of title 5, United States Code, you are directed to perform the functions and duties of the office of Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, until the position is filled by appointment or subsequent delegation, effective 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, November 25, 2017.

(Takemoto Decl., Ex. 1 (Nov. 24, 2017 Memorandum) (Dkt. No. 32-1) at 2)

On November 25, 2017, Mary McLeod-the CFPB's general counsel-issued a memorandum to the agency's Senior Leadership Team "advis[ing] all Bureau personnel to act consistently with the understanding that Director Mulvaney is the Acting Director of the CFPB." (Takemoto Decl., Ex. 3 (Nov. 25, 2017 Memorandum from CFPB general counsel) (Dkt. No. 32-3) at 2) McLeod's memorandum expresses the "legal opinion that the President possesses the authority to designate an Acting Director for the Bureau under the FVRA, notwithstanding [ 12 U.S.C.] § 5491(b)(5)." (Id. at 4) On November 26, 2017, Kate Fulton-the CFPB's Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Executive Secretary-convened a telephone call with senior CFPB leadership, during which "each of the Associate Directors stated that they would act consistently with the understanding that Mick Mulvaney was the Acting Director of the Bureau." (Fulton Decl. (Dkt. No. 32-4) ¶¶ 2, 6)

*573On November 27, 2017, Mulvaney arrived at CFPB headquarters and presented himself as the Acting Director. (Id. ¶ 7) Mulvaney was given access to the building and the Director's office and began work as Acting Director. (Id. ) Since that time, Mulvaney has functioned as the CFPB's Acting Director. (Id. ¶¶ 8-10)

II. THE CFPB'S REGULATION OF PLAINTIFF

Plaintiff is a New York City-based non-profit credit union owned by its members, the majority of whom are low-income and immigrants. (Levy Decl. (Dkt. No.

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289 F. Supp. 3d 568, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lower-e-side-peoples-fed-credit-union-v-trump-ilsd-2018.