{"argument_date":"2017-04-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-04-18T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","paragraphs":["Kevin Russell argued the Act applies to debt collectors. He stated the definition includes those collecting debts owed or due to another.","Santander's counsel argued the sole question is whether debt buyers qualify. He stated they collect for their own account.","Justice Alito questioned why debt buyers are excluded if they acquired debt after default.","Chief Justice Roberts noted the text gives different tenses to owed and due."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 44-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 34-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 34-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 14-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 14-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 38-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 34-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-12"}]}],"caption":"Henson v. Santander Consumer USA Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.517347Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.546460Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Henson argues Santander is a debt collector. Santander argues it is not.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-04-18T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/16-349.html","primary_docket":"16-349","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:38:31.484637Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act defines debt collectors. It includes those who collect debts owed or due to another. Henson claims Santander fits this definition. Santander claims it does not."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 18-20"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Henson wants the Court to rule Santander is a debt collector.","Santander wants the Court to rule it is not a debt collector."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Henson argues the phrase owed or due another covers debt buyers.","Santander argues the phrase excludes entities collecting debts for their own account."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the case addresses Santander's status as a debt servicer.","Justice Alito asked why debt buyers are not covered if they acquired debt after default."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 44-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 34-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 34-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 14-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 14-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 38-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 34-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-12"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who must follow federal debt collection rules. It affects how consumers interact with debt buyers. It clarifies the scope of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 44-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 34-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 34-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 14-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 14-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 38-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 34-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-12"}]}],"slug":"2016-16-349-henson-v-santander-consumer-usa-inc","term":"2016","title":"Does buying a debt make a company a debt collector?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 6-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 6-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 36-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-349_e29g.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 36-1"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}