Supreme Court Docket Report - May 29, 2012

Originally published May 29, 2012

Keywords: fair debt collection practices act, FDCPA, awards of costs

Today the Supreme Court granted certiorari in one case of interest to the business community:

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act—Awards of Costs to Prevailing Defendants

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(1) states that, "[u]nless a federal statute . . . provides otherwise, costs—other than attorney's fees—should be allowed to the prevailing party." Today the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Marx v. General Revenue Corp., No. 11-1175, to determine whether the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), which provides that prevailing defendants in FDCPA litigation "may" recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs upon "a finding by the court that an action under this section was brought in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment," prohibits the awarding of costs under Rule 54(d)(1) to a prevailing FDCPA defendant absent proof that the plaintiff acted in bad faith.

Because the Court's decision will determine whether prevailing defendants can recover costs in routine FDCPA cases without having to show that the plaintiff acted in bad faith, it will be of interest to businesses that are engaged in the collection of consumer debt and therefore potentially subject to suit under the FDCPA.

Petitioner, the plaintiff below, defaulted on a student loan. Respondent, the defendant below, was hired to collect on the outstanding balance. When attempts by respondent to settle the account proved unsuccessful, petitioner sued in federal district court, alleging that she had received threatening and abusive telephone calls, and that a facsimile sent by respondent to her employer was a "communication" regarding the debt, all in violation of the FDCPA. After a bench trial, the district court found in favor of respondent and awarded it costs pursuant to Rule 54(d)(1). The court did not, however, enter a finding that petitioner had acted in bad faith or with an improper motive.

The Tenth Circuit affirmed both on the merits and on the issue of costs. As to the latter, the court of appeals held that the reference to "costs" in the FDCPA's fee-shifting provision "merely recognizes that the prevailing party is entitled to receive the costs of suit as a matter of course." 668 F.3d 1174, 1179. Accordingly, the court held, while the FDCPA requires a showing of bad faith and improper motive before a defendant may recover attorney's fees, it does not...