October Term 2011 · Docket 10-1042
Does RESPA ban sharing unearned settlement fees?
The dispute centers on whether sharing unearned settlement fees violates federal law.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Russell argued on behalf of the sides that brought the case.
Mr. Hefferon argued on behalf of the opposing sides.
Ms. O'Connell argued on behalf of the opposing sides.
Justice Breyer questioned the nature of the fee as a service.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. The law regulates settlement charges in real estate transactions. It aims to prevent abusive practices in the housing market. The specific issue involves the sharing of fees between service providers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 21, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to reverse the lower-court action.
the opposing sides want the Court to affirm the lower-court action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue that sharing unearned fees violates the statute.
the opposing sides argue that the statute does not prohibit this practice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if HUD lacks suit-commencement authority.
Justice Scalia asked why one fee type precedes another.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
Why it matters
The outcome defines the limits of fee sharing in real estate. It clarifies the scope of federal settlement regulations. It impacts how service providers structure their compensation. It affects consumer protections in housing transactions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-15
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.