No. 22-846October Term 2023Decided Feb 8, 2024
Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Housing Service v. Kirtz
The Supreme Court ruled that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) contains a clear waiver of sovereign immunity, allowing consumers to sue federal government agencies for money damages when they violate the Act's credit reporting requirements.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Feb 8, 2024
- What it's about
The Supreme Court ruled that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) contains a clear waiver of sovereign immunity, allowing consumers to sue federal government agencies for money damages when they violate the Act's credit reporting requirements. The unanimous decision affirmed that the statutory definition of "person" includes government agencies, thereby subjecting them to liability.
Question presented
Do the civil-liability provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act unequivocally and unambiguously waive the sovereign immunity of the United States?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit / Decision released Feb 8, 2024
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Documents
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Mar 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology