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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39117-39123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14046]

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BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

12 CFR Part 1071

[Docket No.: CFPB-2012-0020]
RIN 3170-AA27

Equal Access to Justice Act Implementation Rule

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA or the Act) requires 
agencies

[[Page 39118]]

that conduct adversary adjudications to award attorney fees and other 
litigation expenses to certain parties other than the United States in 
certain circumstances. EAJA also requires agencies that conduct 
adversary adjudications to establish procedures for the submission and 
consideration of applications for the award of fees and other expenses. 
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) now issues an interim 
final rule establishing such procedures and seeks public comments.

DATES: This interim final rule takes effect on June 29, 2012. Comments 
must be received on or before August 28, 2012 to be assured of 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Electronic: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery/Courier: Monica Jackson, Office of 
the Executive Secretary, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20552.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. In general, all comments received will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov. In addition, comments will be available for public 
inspection and copying at 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552, on 
official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern 
Time. An appointment to inspect comments can be made by telephoning 
(202) 435-7275. All comments, including attachments and other 
supporting materials, will become part of the public record and subject 
to public disclosure. Submit only information that you wish to make 
publicly available. Sensitive personal information, such as account 
numbers or Social Security numbers, should not be included. Comments 
will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information 
such as name and address information, email addresses, or telephone 
numbers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John R. Coleman, Office of the General 
Counsel, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20552; (202) 435-7254.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Originally enacted in 1980, EAJA provides that ``[a]n agency that 
conducts an adversary adjudication shall award, to a prevailing party 
other than the United States, fees and other expenses incurred by that 
party in connection with that proceeding, unless the adjudicative 
officer of the agency finds that the position of the agency was 
substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award 
unjust.'' 5 U.S.C. 504(a)(1). The Administrative Conference of the 
United States (ACUS) was charged with coordination of the procedural 
rules adopted by various agencies to implement EAJA. To carry out this 
responsibility, ACUS issued model rules implementing EAJA (46 FR 32900, 
June 25, 1981), after receiving public comment on draft model rules (46 
FR 15895, March 10, 1981). ACUS published revised model rules in 1986 
that reflected the amendments Congress made when it re-authorized the 
Act in 1985. 51 FR 16659 (May 6, 1986), previously codified at 1 CFR 
part 315 (1995); see Administrative Conference of the U.S., Federal 
Administrative Procedure Sourcebook at 419 (2d ed. 1992). ACUS did not 
publish model rules reflecting amendments to the Act made since 1985 
before ACUS was temporarily defunded in 1996.
    In preparing regulations implementing the Act, the Bureau has used 
the 1986 ACUS model rules as a point of departure, modifying them to 
put them in plain language, to reflect more recent amendments to the 
Act, and to make certain changes the Bureau believes are warranted for 
reasons explained in the following section-by-section analysis. Since 
the preamble to the draft model rules explained their formulation and 
the preamble to the final model rules summarized and responded to the 
public comments submitted concerning the draft rules, the Bureau does 
not repeat here the rationale of the model rules. Rather, the Bureau 
notes where its rule differs from the model rules and explains 
significant provisions, as follows:
    1. The Bureau's rule is divided into three subparts, as are the 
model rules, and maintains the same sequence with the following 
exception: The Bureau's rule starts at Sec.  1071.100 and omits model 
rule Sec.  315.107, ``Rulemaking on maximum rates for attorney fees,'' 
and Sec.  315.108, ``Awards against other agencies.'' The revised 
numbering causes Bureau Sec.  1071.106 to correspond to model rule 
Sec.  315.109.
    2. Section 1071.100, ``Purpose of this rule,'' inserts a new 
paragraph (b), ``When an eligible party will receive an award,'' which 
reflects amendments to EAJA made by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. 104-121, Title II, 
110 Stat. 857 (1996). This paragraph is modeled on the EAJA rules of 
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 16 CFR 3.81(a)(1)(ii), but includes 
additional language to clarify the circumstances under which the 
Bureau's notice of charges may constitute a demand. This clarifying 
language is consistent with the Congressional intent in promulgating 
SBREFA. Legislative history suggests that Congress intended the term 
``demand'' as used in the SBREFA amendments to mean ``an express 
written demand that leads directly to an adversary adjudication or 
civil action.'' See 142 Cong. Rec. E571-01, E573 (1996) (statement of 
Rep. Hyde). The Congressional Record further clarifies that ``the 
`demand' at issue would be the government's demand that was pending 
upon commencement of the adjudication or action.'' Id. (emphasis 
added). Accordingly, the Bureau's notice of charges would constitute 
the agency's demand only where it was not preceded by an express 
written demand.
    3. Section 1071.102, ``Proceedings covered,'' is modified and 
simplified from model rule Sec.  315.103 and identifies the specific 
proceedings before the Bureau that are covered by EAJA. Incorporation 
of paragraphs (b) and (c) of model rule Sec.  315.103 into the Bureau 
rule is not necessary because it is clear which Bureau proceedings are 
covered by EAJA.
    4. Section 1071.103(b) inserts paragraph (6), which does not appear 
in the corresponding model rule Sec.  315.104(b), in order to conform 
with the SBREFA amendments to EAJA.
    5. Section 1071.104, ``Standards for awards,'' inserts paragraph 
(b), which does not appear in the corresponding model rule Sec.  
315.105, in order to conform with the SBREFA amendments to EAJA. The 
provision in paragraph (b) of model rule Sec.  315.105 was moved to 
Sec.  1071.104(a)(2). The last sentence in paragraph (a)(1) is modeled 
on the comparable rule of the Department of the Treasury governing the 
standards for awards under EAJA, 31 CFR 6.5, and clarifies that 
although the Bureau bears the burden of proof that its position was 
substantially justified, the fact that the Bureau did not prevail in 
the underlying proceeding does not create a presumption that the its 
position was not substantially justified.
    6. Unlike model rule Sec.  315.106(b), the corresponding paragraph 
(b) of Sec.  1071.105 does not specify a rate for attorney fees, but 
instead refers back to the corresponding statutory provision in EAJA 
that sets forth the maximum hourly rate for attorney fees. This 
modification is intended to eliminate the need to promulgate a revised 
rule whenever the statutory maximum is increased. Most recently, the 
maximum

[[Page 39119]]

amount of fees that may normally be awarded to an attorney or agent was 
increased from $75 per hour to $125 per hour pursuant to 1996 
amendments to EAJA. 5 U.S.C. 504(b)(1)(A)(ii). Section 1071.105 
modifies the model rule to permit recovery of expert fees at the 
``reasonable rate at which the Bureau pays witnesses with similar 
expertise'' instead of the ``highest rate'' paid by the Bureau.
    7. Model rule Sec.  315.107, ``Rulemaking on maximum rates for 
attorney fees,'' does not appear in the Bureau rule. Since frequent 
rulemaking on this subject is not foreseen, a rule concerning it is not 
deemed necessary.
    8. Section 315.108 of the model rules, ``Awards against other 
agencies,'' does not appear in the Bureau rule because it is not 
anticipated that another agency of the United States will participate 
in an adversary proceeding before the Bureau. In the event another 
agency did so participate, it is anticipated that the adjudicative 
officer would take appropriate action in the absence of an express 
rule.
    9. Section 1071.106, ``Delegation of authority,'' is a simplified 
version of the corresponding model rule, Sec.  315.109.
    10. Section 1071.200, ``Contents of application,'' is modeled on 
the corresponding FTC rule governing the contents of an application for 
recovery of awards under EAJA, 16 CFR 3.82(a), which provides a more 
comprehensive list of requirements than the corresponding model rule, 
Sec.  315.201(a).
    11. The provisions in paragraph (b) of model rule Sec.  315.202 
have been moved to Sec.  1071.201(b) to consolidate the provisions 
relating to the net worth exhibit into a single section. The provisions 
in paragraph (b) of corresponding model rule Sec.  315.202 regarding 
the presumptively public nature of the net worth exhibit can be found 
in Sec.  1071.201(c).
    12. Section 1071.202, ``Documentation of fees and expenses,'' is 
modified from the corresponding model rule, Sec.  315.203, to conform 
with the SBREFA amendments to EAJA.
    13. Section 1071.203, ``When an application may be filed,'' is 
modified from the corresponding model rule, Sec.  315.204, to conform 
with the SBREFA amendments to EAJA.
    14. Paragraph (c) of Sec.  1071.203 defines the date of final 
Bureau disposition. This is significant for paragraph (a), which makes 
reference to final disposition. In particular, paragraph (a) reiterates 
the statutory provision, set forth at 5 U.S.C. 504(a)(2), that a party 
may file an application for an award within thirty days of the Bureau's 
final disposition of the adversary adjudication as to which the award 
is sought.
    15. Section 1071.300, ``Filing and service of documents,'' 
incorporates the provisions of Sec. Sec.  1081.111, 1081.112 and 
1081.113 concerning service and filing in adjudication proceedings. The 
section also requires the applicant to serve a copy of the application 
for fees and expenses on the General Counsel of the Bureau.
    16. Section 1071.304, ``Settlement,'' revises the corresponding 
model rule, Sec.  315.305, to make explicit that no application for 
recovery of fees and expense may be filed if the settlement of the 
underlying proceeding provides that each side shall bear its own 
expenses.
    17. Section 1071.306, ``Decision,'' is modified from the 
corresponding model rule, Sec.  315.307, to conform with the SBREFA 
amendments to EAJA.
    18. Section 1071.307, ``Bureau review,'' is modified from the 
corresponding model rule, Sec.  315.308, so that Bureau review of an 
adjudicatory officer's decision concerning a fee application follows 
the same procedures as Bureau review of a hearing officer's decision in 
the underlying matter.
    19. Section 1071.309, ``Payment of award,'' sets forth a 60 day 
deadline in which the Bureau must pay the amount awarded to the 
applicant.

II. Regulatory Requirements

    The rule relates solely to agency procedure and practice and, thus, 
is not subject to the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Although the rule is 
exempt from these requirements, the Bureau invites comment on it.
    Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required, these 
regulations are not a ``rule'' as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, 5 U.S.C. 601(2). The regulations in this part do not contain any 
information collection requirement that requires the approval of OMB 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1071

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banking, Banks, Consumer 
protection, Credit, Credit unions, Equal access to justice, Law 
enforcement, National banks, Savings associations.

Authority and Issuance

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Bureau adds part 1071 to 
Chapter X in Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations to read as 
follows:

PART 1071--RULE IMPLEMENTING EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT

Subpart A--General
Sec.
1071.100 Purpose.
1071.101 When the Act applies.
1071.102 Proceedings covered.
1071.103 Eligibility of applicants.
1071.104 Standards for awards.
1071.105 Allowable fees and other expenses.
1071.106 Delegations of authority.
Subpart B--Information Required from Applicants
1071.200 Contents of application.
1071.201 Net worth exhibit.
1071.202 Documentation of fees and expenses.
1071.203 When an application may be filed.
Subpart C--Procedures for Considering Applications
1071.300 Filing and service of documents.
1071.301 Answer to application.
1071.302 Reply.
1071.303 Comments by other parties.
1071.304 Settlement.
1071.305 Further proceedings.
1071.306 Recommended decision.
1071.307 Bureau review.
1071.308 Judicial review.
1071.309 Payment of award.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504.

Subpart A--General

Sec.  1071.100  Purpose.

    (a) In general. The Equal Access to Justice Act (the Act), 5 U.S.C. 
504, provides for the award of attorney fees and other expenses to 
eligible individuals and entities who are parties to certain 
administrative proceedings (adversary adjudications) before the Bureau 
of Consumer Financial Protection (the Bureau). An eligible party may 
receive an award when it prevails over the Bureau, unless the Bureau's 
position in the proceeding was substantially justified or special 
circumstances make an award unjust. This part describes the parties 
eligible for awards and the proceedings that are covered. This part 
also explains how to apply for awards, and the procedures and standards 
that the Bureau will use in ruling on those applications.
    (b) When an eligible party will receive an award. An eligible party 
will receive an award when:
    (1) It prevails in the adversary adjudication, unless the Bureau's 
position in the proceeding was substantially justified or special 
circumstances make an award unjust. Whether or not the position of the 
Bureau was substantially justified will be determined on the basis of 
the administrative record as a whole that is made in the adversary 
proceeding for

[[Page 39120]]

which fees and other expenses are sought; or
    (2) The Bureau's demand is substantially in excess of the decision 
of the adjudicative officer and is unreasonable when compared with that 
decision, under all the facts and circumstances of the case, unless the 
party has committed a willful violation of law or otherwise acted in 
bad faith, or special circumstances make an award unjust. ``Demand'' 
means the express final written demand made by the Bureau prior to 
initiation of the adversary adjudication, but does not include a 
recitation by the Bureau of the statutory penalty in the notice of 
charges or elsewhere when accompanied by an express demand for a lesser 
amount. The relief requested in the Bureau's notice of charges issued 
pursuant to 12 CFR 1081.200(b)(3) may constitute the Bureau's demand 
only where the notice of charges was not preceded by an express final 
written demand.

Sec.  1071.101  When the Act applies.

    The Act applies to any adversary adjudication pending before the 
Bureau at any time after July 21, 2011.

Sec.  1071.102  Proceedings covered.

    The Act applies to all adjudicative proceedings under part 1081 as 
defined in Sec.  1081.103.

Sec.  1071.103  Eligibility of applicants.

    (a) To be eligible for an award of attorney fees and other expenses 
under the Act, the applicant must be a party to the adversary 
adjudication for which it seeks an award. The term ``party'' is defined 
in 5 U.S.C. 551(3). The applicant must show that it meets all 
conditions of eligibility set out in this subpart.
    (b) The types of eligible applicants are as follows:
    (1) An individual with a net worth of not more than $2 million;
    (2) The sole owner of an unincorporated business who has a net 
worth of not more than $7 million, including both personal and business 
interests, and not more than 500 employees;
    (3) A charitable or other tax-exempt organization described in 
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) 
with not more than 500 employees;
    (4) A cooperative association as defined in section 15(a) of the 
Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)) with not more than 500 
employees; or
    (5) Any other partnership, corporation, association, or public or 
private organization with a net worth of not more than $7 million and 
not more than 500 employees.
    (6) For purposes of receiving an award for fees and expenses for 
defending against an excessive Bureau demand, any small entity, as that 
term is defined under 5 U.S.C. 601(6).
    (c) For purposes of eligibility, the net worth and number of 
employees of an applicant shall be determined as of the date the 
proceeding was initiated.
    (d) An applicant who owns an unincorporated business will be 
considered an ``individual'' rather than a ``sole owner of an 
unincorporated business'' if the issues on which the applicant prevails 
are related primarily to personal interests rather than to business 
interests.
    (e) The employees of an applicant include all persons who regularly 
perform services for remuneration for the applicant, under the 
applicant's direction and control. Part-time employees shall be 
included on a proportional basis.
    (f) The net worth and number of employees of the applicant and all 
of its affiliates shall be aggregated to determine eligibility. Any 
individual or group of individuals, corporation or other entity that 
directly or indirectly controls or owns a majority of the voting shares 
or other interest of the applicant, or any corporation or entity of 
which the applicant directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority 
of the voting shares or other interest, will be considered an affiliate 
of that business for purposes of this part, unless the adjudicative 
officer determines that such treatment would be unjust and contrary to 
the purposes of the Act in light of the actual relationship between the 
affiliated entities. In addition, the adjudicative officer may 
determine that financial relationships of the applicant other than 
those described in this paragraph constitute special circumstances that 
would make an award unjust.
    (g) An applicant that participates in a proceeding primarily on 
behalf of one or more other persons or entities that would be 
ineligible is not itself eligible for an award.

Sec.  1071.104  Standards for awards.

    (a) For a prevailing party:
    (1) An eligible prevailing applicant may receive an award for fees 
and expenses incurred after initiation of the adversary adjudication in 
connection with the entire adversary adjudication, or on a substantive 
portion of the adversary adjudication that is sufficiently significant 
and discrete to merit treatment as a separate unit, unless the position 
of the Bureau was substantially justified. The burden of proof that an 
award should not be made to an eligible prevailing applicant because 
the Bureau's position was substantially justified is on counsel for the 
Bureau. However, no presumption arises that the Bureau's position was 
not substantially justified simply because the Bureau did not prevail.
    (2) An award will be reduced or denied if the applicant has unduly 
or unreasonably protracted the proceeding or if special circumstances 
make the award sought unjust.
    (b) For a party defending against an excessive demand:
    (1) An eligible applicant will receive an award for fees and 
expenses incurred after initiation of the adversary adjudication 
related to defending against the portion of a Bureau demand that is 
substantially in excess of the decision of the adjudicative officer and 
is unreasonable when compared with that decision under all the facts 
and circumstances of the case.
    (2) An award will be denied if the applicant has committed a 
willful violation of law or otherwise acted in bad faith or if special 
circumstances make an award unjust.

Sec.  1071.105  Allowable fees and other expenses.

    (a) Subject to the limitations in paragraph (b) of this section, 
awards will be based on rates customarily charged, in the locale of the 
hearing, by persons engaged in the business of acting as attorneys, 
agents and expert witnesses, even if the services were made available 
without charge or at a reduced rate to the applicant.
    (b) No award for the fee of any attorney or agent under this rule 
may exceed the hourly rate specified in 5 U.S.C. 504(b)(1)(A). No award 
to compensate an expert witness may exceed the reasonable rate at which 
the Bureau pays witnesses with similar expertise. However an award may 
also include the reasonable expenses of the attorney, agent or witness 
as a separate item, if the attorney, agent or witness ordinarily 
charges clients separately for such expenses.
    (c) In determining the reasonableness of the fee sought for an 
attorney, agent or expert witness, the adjudicative officer shall 
consider the following:
    (1) If the attorney, agent or witness is in private practice, his 
or her customary fee for similar services, or, if an employee of the 
applicant, the fully allocated cost of the services;
    (2) The prevailing rate for similar services in the community in 
which the

[[Page 39121]]

attorney, agent or witness ordinarily performs services;
    (3) The time actually spent in the representation of the applicant;
    (4) The time reasonably spent in light of the difficulty or 
complexity of the issues in the proceeding; and
    (5) Such other factors as may bear on the value of the services 
provided.
    (d) The reasonable cost of any study, analysis, engineering report, 
test, project or similar matter prepared on behalf of a party may be 
awarded, to the extent that the charge for the services does not exceed 
the prevailing rate for similar services, and the study or other matter 
was necessary for preparation of the applicant's case.
    (e) An award of fees or expenses under the Act is limited to fees 
and expenses incurred after initiation of the adversary adjudication 
and, with respect to excessive demands, the fees and expenses incurred 
in defending against the excessive portion of the demand.

Sec.  1071.106  Delegations of authority.

    The Director may delegate authority to take final action on matters 
pertaining to the Equal Access to Justice Act in particular cases.

Subpart B--Information Required from Applicants

Sec.  1071.200  Contents of application.

    An application for an award of fees and expenses under the Act 
shall contain the following:
    (a) Identity of the applicant and the proceeding for which the 
award is sought;
    (b) A showing that the applicant has prevailed; or, if the 
applicant has not prevailed, a showing that the Bureau's demand was 
substantially in excess of the decision of the adjudicative officer and 
was unreasonable when compared with that decision, under the facts and 
circumstances of that case;
    (c) Identification of the Bureau position(s) in the proceeding that 
the applicant alleges was (were) not substantially justified; or, 
identification of the Bureau's demand that is alleged to be excessive 
and unreasonable and an explanation as to why the demand was excessive 
and unreasonable;
    (d) A brief description of the type and purpose of the organization 
or business (unless the applicant is an individual).
    (e) A statement of how the applicant meets the eligibility criteria 
of Sec.  1071.103;
    (f) The amount of fees and expenses incurred after the initiation 
of the adversary adjudication, or in the case of a claim for defending 
against an allegedly excessive demand, the amount of fees and expenses 
incurred after the initiation of the adjudicative proceeding 
attributable to the allegedly excessive portion of the demand;
    (g) Any other matter the applicant wishes the Bureau to consider in 
determining whether and in what amount an award should be made; and
    (h) A written verification under oath or under penalty of perjury 
that the information provided is true and correct, accompanied by the 
signature of the applicant or an authorized officer or attorney.

Sec.  1071.201  Net worth exhibit.

    (a) The application shall also include a detailed exhibit showing 
that the applicant's net worth did not exceed $2 million (if an 
individual) or $7 million (for all other applicants, including their 
affiliates) when the proceeding was initiated. The exhibit may be in 
any form convenient to the applicant that provides full disclosure of 
the applicant's and its affiliates' assets and liabilities and is 
sufficient to determine whether the applicant qualifies under the 
standards in this subpart. The adjudicative officer may require an 
applicant to file additional information to determine its eligibility 
for an award.
    (b) However, an applicant may omit this exhibit if:
    (1) It attaches a copy of a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service 
that it qualifies as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of 
the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) or, in the case of a 
tax-exempt organization not required to obtain a ruling from the 
Internal Revenue Service on its exempt status, a statement that 
describes the basis for the applicant's belief that it qualifies under 
such section;
    (2) It states that it is a cooperative association as defined in 
section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j(a));
    (3) In the case of an application for an award related to an 
allegedly excessive demand by the Bureau, it demonstrates that it is a 
small entity as that term is defined by 5 U.S.C. 601(6).
    (c) Ordinarily, the net worth exhibit will be included in the 
public record of the proceeding. However, an applicant that objects to 
public disclosure of information in any portion of the exhibit and 
believes there are legal grounds for withholding it from disclosure may 
submit that exhibit directly to the adjudicative officer in a sealed 
envelope labeled ``Confidential Financial Information,'' accompanied by 
a motion to withhold the information from public disclosure. The motion 
shall describe the information sought to be withheld and explain, in 
detail, why it falls within one or more of the specific exemptions from 
mandatory disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 
522(b)(1) through (9), why public disclosure of the information would 
adversely affect the applicant, and why disclosure is not required in 
the public interest. The material in question shall be served on Bureau 
counsel but need not be served on any other party to the proceeding. If 
the adjudicative officer finds that the information should not be 
withheld from disclosure, it shall be placed in the public record of 
the proceeding. Otherwise, any request to inspect or copy the exhibit 
shall be handled in accordance with the Bureau's established procedures 
under the Freedom of Information Act, 12 CFR subpart B.

Sec.  1071.202  Documentation of fees and expenses.

    The application shall be accompanied by full documentation of the 
fees and expenses incurred after initiation of the adversary 
adjudication, including the cost of any study, engineering report, 
test, or project for which an award is sought. With respect to a claim 
for fees and expenses involving an excessive demand by the Bureau, the 
application shall be accompanied by full documentation of the fees and 
expenses incurred after initiation of the adversary adjudication, 
including the cost of any study, engineering report, test, or project 
for which an award is sought attributable to the portion of the demand 
alleged to be excessive and unreasonable. A separate itemized statement 
shall be submitted for each professional firm or individual whose 
services are covered by the application, showing the hours spent in 
connection with the proceeding by each individual, a description of the 
specific services performed, the rate at which each fee has been 
computed, any expenses for which reimbursement is sought, the total 
amount claimed, and the total amount paid or payable by the applicant 
or by any other person or entity for the services provided. The 
adjudicative officer may require the applicant to provide vouchers, 
receipts, or other substantiation for any expenses claimed.

Sec.  1071.203  When an application may be filed.

    (a) An application may be filed not later than 30 days after the 
final disposition of the proceeding to which the application relates.
    (b) If review or reconsideration is sought or taken of a decision, 
proceedings for the award of fees shall

[[Page 39122]]

be stayed pending final disposition of the underlying controversy.
    (c) For purposes of this subpart, final disposition means the later 
of--
    (1) The date that the Director's final order issued pursuant to 
Sec.  1081.405 is final and unappealable, both within the agency and to 
the courts; or
    (2) The date that the Bureau issues any other final resolution of a 
proceeding, such as a consent agreement, settlement or voluntary 
dismissal, that is not subject to a petition for reconsideration.

Subpart C--Procedures for Considering Applications

Sec.  1071.300  Filing and service of documents.

    (a) Any application for an award or other pleading or document 
related to an application shall be filed and served on all parties to 
the proceeding in the same manner as other pleadings in proceedings 
under part 1081.
    (b) In addition, a copy of each application for fees and expenses 
shall be served on the General Counsel of the Bureau.

Sec.  1071.301  Answer to application.

    (a) Within 30 days after service of an application, counsel 
representing the Bureau may file an answer to the application. Unless 
Bureau counsel requests an extension of time for filing or files a 
statement of intent to negotiate under paragraph (b) of this section, 
failure to file an answer within the 30-day period may be treated as 
consent to the award requested.
    (b) If Bureau counsel and the applicant believe that the issues in 
the fee application can be settled, they may jointly file a statement 
of their intent to negotiate a settlement. The filing of this statement 
shall extend the time for filing an answer for an additional 30 days 
and further extensions may be granted by the adjudicative officer upon 
joint request by Bureau counsel and the applicant.
    (c) The answer shall explain in detail any objections to the award 
requested and identify the facts relied on in support of Bureau 
counsel's position. If the answer is based on any alleged facts not 
already in the record of the proceeding, Bureau counsel shall include 
with the answer either supporting affidavits or a request for further 
proceedings under Sec.  1071.305 of this part.

Sec.  1071.302  Reply.

    Within 15 days after service of an answer, the applicant may file a 
reply. If the reply is based on any alleged facts not already in the 
record of the proceeding, the applicant shall include with the reply 
either supporting affidavits or a request for further proceedings under 
Sec.  1071.305 of this part.

Sec.  1071.303  Comments by other parties.

    Any party to a proceeding other than the applicant and Bureau 
counsel may file comments on an application within 30 days after it is 
served or on an answer within 15 days after it is served. A commenting 
party may not participate further in proceedings on the application 
unless the adjudicative officer determines that the public interest 
requires such participation in order to permit full exploration of 
matters raised in the comments.

Sec.  1071.304  Settlement.

    The applicant and Bureau counsel may agree on a proposed settlement 
of the award before final action on the application, either in 
connection with a settlement of the underlying proceeding or after the 
underlying proceeding has been concluded, in accordance with the 
Bureau's standard settlement procedures. If a prevailing party and 
Bureau counsel agree on a proposed settlement of an award before an 
application has been filed, the application shall be filed with the 
proposed settlement. If a proposed settlement of an underlying 
proceeding provides that each side shall bear its own expenses and the 
settlement is accepted, no application may be filed.

Sec.  1071.305  Further proceedings.

    (a) Ordinarily, the determination of an award will be made on the 
basis of the written record. However, on request of either the 
applicant or Bureau counsel, or on his or her own initiative, the 
adjudicative officer may order further proceedings, such as an informal 
conference, oral argument, additional written submissions or an 
evidentiary hearing. Such further proceedings shall be held only when 
necessary for full and fair resolution of the issues arising from the 
application, and shall be conducted as promptly as possible.
    (b) A request that the adjudicative officer order further 
proceedings under this section shall specifically identify the 
information sought or the disputed issues and shall explain why the 
additional proceedings are necessary to resolve the issues.

Sec.  1071.306  Recommended decision.

    The adjudicative officer shall issue a recommended decision on the 
application within 60 days after the time for filing a reply, or where 
further proceedings are held, within 60 days after completion of such 
proceedings.
    (a) For a decision involving a prevailing party: The decision shall 
include written findings and conclusions on the applicant's eligibility 
and status as a prevailing party, and an explanation of the reasons for 
any difference between the amount requested and the amount awarded. The 
decision shall include, if at issue, findings on whether the agency's 
position was substantially justified, whether the applicant unduly 
protracted the proceedings, or whether special circumstances make an 
award unjust.
    (b) For a decision involving an allegedly excessive Bureau demand: 
The decision on the application shall include written findings and 
conclusions on the applicant's eligibility and an explanation of the 
reasons why the Bureau's demand was or was not determined to be 
substantially in excess of the underlying decision of the adjudicative 
officer and was or was not unreasonable when compared with that 
decision. That determination shall be based upon all the facts and 
circumstances of the case. The decision on the application shall also 
include, if at issue, findings on whether the applicant has committed a 
willful violation of law or otherwise acted in bad faith, or whether 
special circumstances make an award unjust.

Sec.  1071.307  Bureau review.

    Either the applicant or Bureau counsel may seek review of the 
recommended decision on the fee application by filing a notice of 
appeal under Sec.  1081.402(a), or the Director may decide to review 
the decision on his or her own initiative, in accordance with Sec.  
1081.402(b). If neither the applicant nor Bureau counsel seeks review 
and the Director does not take review on his or her own initiative, the 
Director will adopt the recommended decision on the application as the 
final decision of the Bureau within 30 days of the issuance of the 
recommended decision. Whether to review a decision is a matter within 
the discretion of the Director. If review is taken, the Director will 
issue a final decision on the application or remand the application to 
the adjudicative officer for further proceedings.

Sec.  1071.308  Judicial review.

    Judicial review of final Bureau decisions on awards may be sought 
as provided in 5 U.S.C. 504(c)(2).

Sec.  1071.309  Payment of award.

    An applicant seeking payment of an award shall submit to the Bureau 
a copy of the Bureau's final decision granting the award, accompanied 
by a statement

[[Page 39123]]

that the applicant will not seek review of the decision in the United 
States courts. An applicant shall be paid the amount awarded within 60 
days of entry of the final decision unless judicial review of the award 
or of the underlying decision of the adversary adjudication has been 
sought by the applicant or any other party to the proceeding.

    Dated: June 4, 2012.
Richard Cordray,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
[FR Doc. 2012-14046 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P
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