Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Perez v. Mortgage Bankers Assn. Case Brief

Supreme Court of the United States2015Docket #2639948
191 L. Ed. 2d 186 135 S. Ct. 1199 2015 U.S. LEXIS 1740 25 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S 127 83 U.S.L.W. 4160 45 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20050 24 Wage & Hour Cas.2d (BNA) 529 Administrative Law Legislation and Regulation Constitutional Law

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: The Supreme Court held that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) does not require an agency to use notice-and-comment procedures when it significantly alters a prior interpretation of its own regulation, as the APA’s exemption for interpretive rules is categorical.

Legal Significance: This case invalidates the D.C. Circuit’s Paralyzed Veterans doctrine, clarifying that the APA’s categorical exemption for interpretive rules from notice-and-comment applies even when an agency reverses a prior interpretation. It reinforces the principle that courts cannot impose procedural requirements on agencies beyond the APA’s text.

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

The Department of Labor (DOL) is authorized by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to define which employees fall under the “administrative” exemption from overtime pay requirements. In 2004, the DOL issued a legislative rule, through notice-and-comment, defining this exemption. In 2006, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division issued an opinion letter—an interpretive rule—stating that mortgage-loan officers qualified for the administrative exemption. In 2010, the DOL, without notice and comment, issued a new “Administrator’s Interpretation” that reversed its 2006 position, concluding that mortgage-loan officers did not qualify for the exemption. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) challenged the 2010 interpretation, arguing it was procedurally invalid under the D.C. Circuit’s Paralyzed Veterans doctrine. That doctrine required an agency to use notice-and-comment rulemaking when it significantly revised a prior, definitive interpretation of a regulation. The D.C. Circuit, bound by its precedent, agreed with the MBA and vacated the 2010 interpretation. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to determine if the Paralyzed Veterans doctrine is consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does the Administrative Procedure Act require an agency to use notice-and-comment procedures when it significantly alters a prior interpretive rule that explains one of its own regulations?

No. The Court reversed the D.C. Circuit, holding that the Paralyzed Veterans Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in vo

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Legal Issue

Does the Administrative Procedure Act require an agency to use notice-and-comment procedures when it significantly alters a prior interpretive rule that explains one of its own regulations?

Conclusion

The decision eliminates a significant, judicially created procedural hurdle for agencies wishing Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliqui

Legal Rule

The Administrative Procedure Act's exemption for "interpretative rules" from notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim ve

Legal Analysis

The Court's analysis rested primarily on a textual interpretation of the APA. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et do

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Flash Summary

  • An agency is not required to use notice-and-comment procedures when it
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptat

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