First American Financial v. Edwards

Issue: Whether a private purchaser of real estate settlement services has standing to sue under Article III, § 2 of the United States Constitution.

Plain English Issue: Whether lawsuits under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, which allows homebuyers to sue banks and title companies when they pay kickbacks for the closing of a mortgage loan, are constitutional if the kickback does not affect the price or quality of the services provided?

Judgment: Dismissed as improvidently granted in a per curiam opinion on June 28, 2012.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

• First American Financial v. Edwards: Surprising end to a potentially important case (Kevin Russell)
• Argument recap: First American Financial Corp. v. Edwards (Christopher Wright)
• Argument preview: Standing to challenge kickbacks that do not directly affect price (Christopher Wright)
• Petition of the day (Conor McEvily)

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs for the Petitioners

• Brief for First American Financial Corporation et al.
• Reply brief for First American Financial Corporation et al.
  

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioners

• Brief for ACA International Law
• Brief for the American Land Title Association
• Brief for the Association of Global Automakers, Inc., and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
• Brief for the Consumer Data Industry Association for the Reversal of the Ninth Circuit’s Judgement
• Brief for DRI-the Voice of the Defense Bar and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
• Brief for Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
• Brief for Facebook, Inc. et al.
• Brief for the International Association of Defense Counsel
• Brief for the National Association of Home Builders and the California Building Industry Association
• Brief for the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys
• Brief for the New England Legal Foundation et al.
• Brief for the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
• Brief for the Real Estate Services Provider’s Council, Inc., (Respro)
• Brief for the Stewart Information Services Corporation et al. 

Merits Briefs for the Respondent

• Brief for Denise P. Edwards

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Respondent

• Brief for Birny Birnbaum, M.S., M.C.P. et al.
• Brief for Electronic Privacy Information Center (Epic)
• Brief for Reporter and Advisers to Restatement  of Restitution and Unjust Enrichment
• Brief for AARP et al.
• Brief for Erick and Whitney Carter 
• Brief for Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law et al.
• Brief for the National Association of Title Agents 
• Brief for Public Law Professors 
• Brief for Toyota Economic-Loss Plaintiffs
• Brief for  Missouri et al.
• Brief for the United States 
• Brief for trust law and ERISA law professors

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (9th Circuit)

• Petition for certiorari
• Brief in opposition
• Petitioners’ reply
• Amicus brief of Law Professors
• Amicus brief of American Land Title Association et al.
• Amicus brief of American Escrow Association et al.