Enforcement & Agency Coercion

Topics

Beyond official rules and regulations, federal agencies sometimes exert influence through unofficial administrative tools. Wielded without the ordinary checks and balances of official actions that lawmakers put in place, these powers can be used to pressure individuals and companies to surrender their rights without due process. What are the real-world examples of agencies using coercive power to affect companies, employees, and consumers and how can these practices be avoided in the future?

Improper Third-Party Payments in U.S. Government Litigation Settlements

February 22, 2021

In this paper, the authors lay out how the United States government negotiated settlements in which settling defendants were forced to pay “donations” to third parties not involved in the cases. The authors go on to argue that this practice – halted in 2017 – was unconstitutional and must remain permanently proscribed.

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Regulating in the Shadows: How Agencies Achieve Indirectly that Which they have No Authority to Achieve Directly

July 5, 2017

When is it appropriate for a government agency to use its powers and force citizens to give up legal rights in order to achieve the agency’s goals? When does this power become overly coercive? The authors of this paper delve into these important questions.

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Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

February 15, 2024

On February 20, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of…

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Loper Bright and the Next Steps for Chevron Deference at the Supreme Court

October 10, 2023

This Term, the Supreme Court will hear Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo—a case concerning judicial deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous…

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Litigation Update: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

October 3, 2023

For the past thirty years, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) has given the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), an arm of…

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Deep Dive Episode 272 – Environmental Enforcement: Policies, Priorities, and the Rule of Law

June 28, 2023

Our Nation’s environmental laws and regulations are designed to foster the responsible use of natural resources while ensuring air, water,…

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Deep Dive Episode 226 – Due Process Protections in Agency Enforcement Actions

June 30, 2022

Steven Bradbury, Sheng Li, and Beth Williams provided an update on Polyweave Packaging v. Buttigieg and discussed the case’s implications for administrative rulemaking and due process.

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Deep Dive Episode 222 – The Return of Supplemental Environmental Projects

June 21, 2022

Three executive branch veterans with a range of views on the issue joined us for a virtual discussion on the return of SEPs.

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Deep Dive Episode 200 – Corporate Social Responsibility, Investment Strategy, and Liability Risks

October 13, 2021

A distinguished panel joins us to discuss a new paper that examines the legal implications of the rise of “ESG” investing.

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Deep Dive Episode 196 – Brace Yourself: Discussing The ATF’s Rulemaking On Forearm Stabilizing

September 8, 2021

An expert panel debates a proposed rule that could subject almost all firearms with forearm stabilizing braces to the National Firearms Act of 1934.

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Deep Dive Episode 172 – Third-Party Payments in Government Litigation Settlements

April 21, 2021

Experts debate whether third-party payments in government litigation settlements will – and should – be utilized by the new administration.

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Deep Dive Episode 129 – Environmental Citizen Suits and SEPs: Do Constitutional and Nondelegation Concerns Outweigh Environmental Benefits?

September 2, 2020

Are Supplemental Environmental Projects–citizen suits filed alongside the government’s environmental enforcement actions–an unconstitutional infringement on a core executive function?

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Deep Dive Episode 101 – Litigation Update: Neora v. FTC

April 7, 2020

Neora Co-CEO Deborah Heisz and lead litigation counsel Ed Burbach of Foley & Lardner join us to describe their last four years of interactions with the FTC and the ultimate “fencing in” proposal that lead them to file suit.

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Explainer Episode 4 – Civil Rights and Vanity Plates

September 12, 2019

A USC professor was barred by the California DMV from putting a soccer slogan on his vanity plate; were his free speech rights violated?

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Deep Dive Episode 59 – Cedar Point Nursery v. Shiroma

June 17, 2019

A recent Ninth Circuit decision held that a California regulation allowing labor organizers to spend time on an employer’s property for the purpose of soliciting union membership did not count as a ‘physical taking’ under the 5th Amendment. Wen Fa and Bethany Berger discuss the implications of this decision.

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Deep Dive Episode 54 – Department of Interior Considers Rulemaking on the Right to Use Eagle Feathers in Religious Exercise

May 20, 2019

It is currently a federal crime, under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, for many Native Americans to possess eagle feathers for religious use. In the 53rd episode of the Fourth Branch podcast series, Joe Davis addressed the proposed rulemaking and its relationship to evolving First Amendment jurisprudence.

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Deep Dive Episode 23 – En Banc D.C. Circuit Upholds CFPB Constitutionality

February 5, 2018

Amb. C. Boyden Gray and Adam Gustafson (Boyden Gray & Associates) discuss the recent en banc decision in PHH v. CFPB, which considers the constitutionality of the CFPB, and whether the case is likely to reach the Supreme Court of the United States.

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Deep Dive Episode 11 – Heimlich Maneuver on Operation Choke Point?

August 25, 2017

Listen to Pete Patterson (Cooper & Kirk) discuss Operation Choke Point, the recent Department of Justice letter denouncing its participation in this initiative, and litigation against federal agencies who have participated in it.

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Deep Dive Episode 8 – Cardiac Arrest: A Cautionary Tale

August 2, 2017

Listen to Howard Root’s story of going from the CEO of Vascular Solutions, Inc. to defending himself and his company in court.

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Deep Dive Episode 3 – SEC Increased Use of Administrative Proceedings and “The $2,200 Man”

June 22, 2017

Michael Kelly (Hogan Lovells) and Eric Wanger (Wanger Investment Management) discuss the SEC’s use of administrative proceedings in this episode of Fourth Branch.

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Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

February 15, 2024

On February 20, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of…

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Congress and the Future of Agency Authority: A Discussion of Three Major Administrative Law Cases and Their Implications for Congress

January 5, 2024

The Federalist Society’s Capitol Hill Chapter and the Regulatory Transparency Project invite you to join them for a luncheon at…

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Regulation and Red Tape: Tax Inversions: Unpacking the Pfizer Case

November 3, 2023

In episode four of the “Regulation and Red Tape ” series, experts provide an exposition of corporate tax inversions, spotlighting Pfizer’s case, and raise pivotal questions concerning the balance of powers when time-sensitive policy matters are at stake.

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[Film Screening & Discussion] Sackett v. EPA: A Tale of Wetland Regulations

October 17, 2023

Join the Federalist Society and the American Conservation Coalition for a film screening and discussion of Sackett v. EPA: A…

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Loper Bright and the Next Steps for Chevron Deference at the Supreme Court

October 10, 2023

This Term, the Supreme Court will hear Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo—a case concerning judicial deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous…

Watch this video

Litigation Update: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

October 3, 2023

For the past thirty years, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) has given the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), an arm of…

Watch this video

Wong v. NYCERS and ESG Action at the State and Local Level: A Debate on the Right

October 3, 2023

In Wayne Wong et. al. v. New York City Employees’ Retirement System et. al., four current and former New York City…

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Regulation and Red Tape: Boucher v. USDA: Navigating the Swampbuster Provisions

September 29, 2023

Have you ever received a notice from the government that you violated a rule that you didn’t know about?

In the 1990’s, the Boucher family removed nine trees from their property as an attempt to mitigate the buildup of trash and dumping on their land. This action triggered a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) investigation suspecting environmental damage. Consequently, the Bouchers lost eligibility for USDA benefits, including “Swampbuster” provisions. In Boucher vs. USDA, the government grapples with balancing natural resource protection and individual liberties. This case underscores the long and painstaking nature of government processes, emphasizing the time and diligence often required for justice and good governance.

In the third episode of “Regulation and Red Tape,” experts highlight the broader implications of Boucher vs. USDA and consider the balance between regulatory enforcement and individual rights.

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Regulation and Red Tape: Sackett v. EPA: A Tale of Wetland Regulations

September 15, 2023

At what point can Americans go to court to defend themselves against agency enforcement action?

This crucial question arose for the Sackett family when they embarked on the initial stages of constructing their home near Priest Lake, Idaho. EPA agents arrived on their property and asserted that it was a federally protected wetland. The EPA subsequently issued a compliance order that would subject the Sacketts to a fine of $37,500 a day. What followed was years of legal battles between the Sackett family and the EPA, culminating in two pivotal Supreme Court decisions.

In the second episode of the “Regulation and Red Tape” series, experts delve into the story of the Sackett family, their experience with the EPA, and the due process questions raised by the story.

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Regulation and Red Tape: Mergers, Monopolies, and the FTC

September 1, 2023

Since the 19th century, the United States government has intervened to combat the growth of monopolies in our economy. The…

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Official Trailer: The Regulation and Red Tape Series

August 30, 2023

In this new video series from the Regulatory Transparency Project, leading legal experts will debate some of the most controversial regulatory issues in America today. Moderated by the Hon. Paul J. Ray, “Regulation and Red Tape” will tell true stories of how federal regulatory actions impact the lives of ordinary Americans and the economy they rely on. In watching this series, you will have the opportunity to learn more about how the regulatory process functions, consider how and when regulatory action is necessary, and evaluate the trade-offs involved when the regulatory state acts.

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Environmental Enforcement: Policies, Priorities, and the Rule of Law

June 28, 2023

Our Nation’s environmental laws and regulations are designed to foster the responsible use of natural resources while ensuring air, water,…

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Environmental Enforcement Keynote Address by Senator Dan Sullivan

June 28, 2023

Our Nation’s environmental laws and regulations are designed to foster the responsible use of natural resources while ensuring air, water,…

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Environmental Enforcement: Policies, Priorities, and the Rule of Law

May 15, 2023

Our Nation’s environmental laws and regulations are designed to foster the responsible use of natural resources while ensuring air, water,…

Watch this video

Due Process Protections in Agency Enforcement Actions

June 30, 2022

Steven Bradbury, Sheng Li, and Beth Williams provided an update on Polyweave Packaging v. Buttigieg and discussed the case’s implications for administrative rulemaking and due process.

Watch this video

The Return of Supplemental Environmental Projects

June 21, 2022

Three executive branch veterans with a range of views on the issue joined us for a virtual discussion on the return of SEPs.

Watch this video

Should Regulators Mandate ESG Practices and Disclosures?

December 13, 2021

Trent McCotter examines Environmental, Social, and Governance standards and how they are, and should be, utilized by regulators.

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Corporate Social Responsibility, Investment Strategy, and Liability Risks

October 13, 2021

A distinguished panel joins us to discuss a new paper that examines the legal implications of the rise of “ESG” investing.

Watch this video

Brace Yourself: Discussing The ATF’s Rulemaking On Forearm Stabilizing Braces

September 8, 2021

An expert panel debates a proposed rule that could subject almost all firearms with forearm stabilizing braces to the National Firearms Act of 1934.

Watch this video

Third-Party Payments in Government Litigation Settlements

April 16, 2021

Experts debate whether third-party payments in government litigation settlements will – and should – be utilized by the new administration

Watch this video

Are Fuel Economy Standards Useful in Lowering Carbon Pollution?

January 25, 2021

Are fuel economy regulations the best tool to reduce pollution? How do they affect consumer behavior, and do they have hidden costs?

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How Does the FDA Regulate Hand Sanitizer?

September 23, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer has been in high demand. The FDA has stringent regulations about the ingredients for hand sanitizer. This guidance was relaxed somewhat to allow more production from a variety of alcohol industries, such as fuel alcohol manufacturers. After these industries invested time and money preparing to produce hand sanitizer, the FDA revoked the initial guidance and dictated that all hand sanitizer must comply with the usual standards. Are the actions of the FDA justified out of a concern for safety, or should some regulations be re-evaluated in times of emergency?

T. Elliot Gaiser is an Associate at Boyden Gray & Associates PLLC.

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Obscuring the SEC’s climate disclosure rule may invite a host of legal problems

December 11, 2023

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) pending climate disclosure rule has been delayed yet again. The climate disclosure rule will require publicly traded companies to quantify and disclose how climate change risk factors impact their operations and financial health.

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SCOTUS Strikes Down Structure of CFPB’s Director Position

John Shu

June 29, 2020

Today, in Seila Law, LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Supreme Court struck down the CFPB’s leadership structure of a single director with a five-year term, removable only for inefficiency, neglect, or malfeasance, because it violates the separation of powers.

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It Shouldn’t Be Illegal to Wear a T-shirt

Wen Fa

November 5, 2019

It shouldn’t be illegal to wear a t-shirt. Yet several states, including California, Colorado, and Tennessee, have established buffer zones in which political expression is forbidden when it matters the most. On Election Day, voters in these states are forbidden from wearing t-shirts or buttons that ostensibly express political messages. In some states, Americans are even prohibited from displaying political yard signs on their own property if they happen to reside too close to a school or a church that’s being used as a polling place.

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Speech Police at the DMV: Regulation and Arbitrary Rule

Wen Fa

September 19, 2019

Vague laws invite arbitrary power. Laws that require regulators to censor speech they find offensive, for example, give them free rein to make decisions that are arbitrary, biased, and unjust.

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