Law and legal issues

A federal appeals court handed a major victory — and a significant defeat — to the CFPB by upholding its constitutional structure while also slapping down the agency's practice of making new interpretations of law through enforcement actions.

The decision by the appeals court means that a president can only fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for cause. But the ruling also scrapped the CFPB's massive fine against a nonbank mortgage lender.

In a blow to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal judge rejected the agency's request for over $280 million in penalties against the California lender CashCall, ruling that the lender's violations did not justify such a large fine.

The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a case challenging the appointment of administrative law judges, which could impact a ruling on the constitutionality of the CFPB.

After a significant setback this week in the legal bid to unseat Mick Mulvaney as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, consumer groups are pinning their hopes on a second case they hope will provide a different result.

Keith Noreika, who made waves during his brief stint as acting Comptroller of the Currency, has rejoined Simpson Thacher Bartlett as a partner.

Barclays and the Justice Department, engaged in a legal battle over the suspected fraudulent sale of mortgage securities a decade ago, have revived discussions about reaching an out-of-court settlement, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The accord is the latest development in investigations by governments across the globe into banks’ manipulation of benchmark interest rates.

The U.S. Second Circuit ruled that Momentive Performance Materials should use what's known a a "market rates" formula to determine the appropriate payout for a series of replacement notes issued to bondholders.

British regulators are touting the success of their so-called regulatory sandbox. Their American counterparts have been unable to agree on a comprehensive scheme to foster innovation.