No. 19-512October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Apr 20, 2020
Robinson v. Department of Education
This case asks whether a consumer can sue the U.S.
Case status
Decided · April 20, 2020
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- What it's about
This case asks whether a consumer can sue the U.S. Department of Education under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for allegedly violating the statute’s duties to consumers. The dispute centers on whether the Act’s definition of “person,” which includes government agencies, clearly allows damages suits against federal agencies despite sovereign immunity.
Question presented
Whether the Fair Credit Reporting Act authorizes consumers to file civil suits against federal governmental agencies under 15 U.S.C. § 1681n and §1681o?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided April 20, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 20, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
Opinion added: Opinion
Apr 20, 2020 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Aug 5, 2019 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology