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FOIA News: CoA Institute Sues CFPB for Anti-Arbitration Rule Docs

FOIA News (2015-2023)Kevin SchmidtComment

CoA Institute Sues CFPB for Anti-Arbitration Rule Docs

Cause of Action Institute, Dec. 13, 2016

Cause of Action Institute (“CoA Institute”) today filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to compel the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) to provide records the agency used in formulating its rule to prohibit the use of mandatory binding arbitration clauses in financial services contracts.

In April 2016, CoA Institute filed a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) request for records that would show how the agency conducted its study. Although CFPB produced some documents, the agency withheld a large number of responsive records and information. 

In September, 2016, CFPB issued a final determination, indicating the agency would withhold 1,877 pages of responsive records. CoA Institute appealed the CFPB’s determination and challenged each FOIA exemption the agency applied to the production. Last month, CFPB denied the appeal.

Read more here.

Read the complaint here.