Henson v. Santander Consumer USA, Inc.

Docket No.	Op. Below	Argument	Opinion	Vote	Author	Term
16-349	4th Cir.	Apr 18, 2017 Tr.Aud.	Jun 12, 2017	9-0	Gorsuch	OT 2016

Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the counsel to the petitioner in this case.

Holding: A company may collect debts that it purchased for its own account without triggering the statutory definition of a "debt collector" under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Judgment: Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Gorsuch on June 12, 2017.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Opinion analysis: Gorsuch’s first opinion confirms exemption of debt buyers from Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Ronald Mann)
Argument analysis: Court dubious about reading Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to reach debt buyers (Ronald Mann)
Argument preview: Court to consider application of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to debt buyers (Ronald Mann)
Court adds 16 new cases to its merits docket (Expanded) (Amy Howe)

Date	Proceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Jul 1 2016	Application (16A12) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from July 18, 2016 to August 17, 2016, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Jul 5 2016	Application (16A12) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until August 17, 2016.
Aug 3 2016	Application (16A12) to extend further the time from August 17, 2016 to September 16, 2016, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Aug 4 2016	Application (16A12) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until September 16, 2016.
Sep 16 2016	Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 17, 2016)
Sep 27 2016	Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 16, 2016, for all respondents.
Nov 16 2016	Brief of respondent Santander Consumer USA Inc. in opposition filed.
Nov 30 2016	DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 6, 2017.
Nov 30 2016	Reply of petitioners Ricky Henson, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Jan 9 2017	DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 13, 2017.
Jan 13 2017	Petition GRANTED.
Feb 2 2017	Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners.
Feb 2 2017	Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or neither party received from counsel for the respondent.
Feb 17 2017	SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, April 18, 2017.
Feb 17 2017	Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Feb 17 2017	Brief of petitioners Ricky Henson, et al. filed.
Feb 22 2017	Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit.
Feb 22 2017	Record received from the U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit. The record is electronic and available on PACER.
Feb 24 2017	Brief amici curiae of States of Oregon, et al. filed.
Feb 24 2017	Brief amicus curiae of Public Counsel filed.
Feb 24 2017	Brief amici curiae of Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, et al. filed.
Feb 24 2017	Brief amici curiae of National Consumer Law Center, et al. filed.
Mar 20 2017	Brief of respondent Santander Consumer USA Inc. filed.
Mar 22 2017	CIRCULATED.
Mar 27 2017	Brief amici curiae of The Clearing House Association L.L.C., et al. filed. (Distributed)
Mar 27 2017	Brief amicus curiae of ACA International filed. (Distributed)
Mar 27 2017	Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Apr 3 2017	Reply of petitioners Ricky Henson, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Apr 18 2017	Argued. For petitioners: Kevin K. Russell, Bethesda, Md. For respondent: Kannon K. Shanmugam, Washington, D. C.
Jun 12 2017	Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
Jul 14 2017	JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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6	7 Orders MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP. V. ALBRECHT (17-290) OBDUSKEY V. MCCARTHY & HOLTHUS LLP (17-1307)	8 HERRERA V. WYOMING (17-532) FOURTH ESTATE PUBLIC BENEFIT CORP. V. WALL-STREET.COM, LLC (17-571) Opinions	9 FRANCHISE TAX BOARD OF CALIFORNIA V. HYATT (17-1299)	10	11 Conference	12
13	14 Orders THACKER V. TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (17-1201) RIMINI STREET INC. V. ORACLE USA INC. (17-1625)	15 HOME DEPOT U.S.A. INC. V. JACKSON (17-1471) AZAR V. ALLINA HEALTH SERVICES (17-1484) Opinions	16 KNICK V. TOWNSHIP OF SCOTT, PENNSYLVANIA (17-647) TENNESSEE WINE AND SPIRITS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION V. BLAIR (18-96)	17	18 Conference	19
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Cases argued	43
Cases decided	9
Summary reversals	2
Merits cases granted to date	73

Editor's Note :

Henson v. Santander Consumer USA, Inc.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Featured Posts

Challengers urge justices to dismiss census case after district court ruling (Updated) – Amy Howe

Reargument analysis: Justices seek a “middle position” in takings litigation case – Miriam Seifter

Argument analysis: Justices have strong views about removal of class actions – Ronald Mann

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