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The defendants, including Larry Castle and Caren Castle, in State of Colorado v. The Castle Law Group, LLC, et al.,recently gained a major victory in the five-year case when Denver District Judge Morris Hoffman ruled in favor of the defendants, blocking the attorney general’s original request of damages of up to $26 million.

The D.C. Circuit court allows for 30 minutes per side for oral argument. In its request for argument time, the DOJ stated that because “our position in this case does not fully align with either party,” it is requesting that “instead of sharing time with either party, we receive a total of ten minutes for the United States.”

Working with regulators, federal agencies, state and local governments, code officials, clients, and other parties requires continued vigilance and understanding of specific, unique requirements. When a change is made at any of those entities, it manifests itself into the specific actions of field services companies’ inspector and contractor networks.

Cordray defended the role of the CFPB in his prepared remarks, given the current debate surrounding the Bureau. In his opening statement, Financial Services Committee Charmin Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) expressed surprise at Cordray’s appearance at the hearing, citing the president’s ability to remove the Director at will and reports that Cordray was to pursue an Ohio gubernatorial bid.

CFPB Director Richard Cordray will go before the Housing Financial Services Committee to address the Bureau’s two most recent semiannual reports. In his prepared remarks, Cordray is prepared to discuss credit reporting, financial incentives, and debt collection, among other things. He will also defend the CFPB’s purpose amidst the political debate currently encircling it.

Household debt reached a peak of $12.7 trillion in Q3 2008. Following the peak, debt declined for several years until recently. The past three years have seen a gradual increase in debt, reaching $12.6 trillion by Q4 2016. Borrowers have shifted away from housing-related debt into student loan and auto debt.

A new report shows the likelihood of drops in housing prices—for all states and major cities—is pretty low over the next two years. This is because of low interest rates, short supply, and a tightening job market. If pricing declines do occur, they’re most likely in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Alaska, as well as Oklahoma City.

The annual Five Star Government Forum will host leaders from both the mortgage servicing industry and the government to discuss policy and reform. Speakers and panel discussions will cover the economy and the future of the market.

Morgan Stanley has now completed 77 percent of its consumer relief obligations per its legal settlement with the State of New York. With the recent approval of nearly $200 million in credit, the organization has now satisfied $309.1 million or the total $400 million it owes. The settlement stems from a 2016 case regarding residential mortgage-backed securities.

On Monday at the National Low Income Housing Coalition conference in Washington, HUD Secretary Ben Carson stated that the Trump administration will include housing funding in the infrastructure bill. Carson defended the Trump administration’s $6 billion proposed budget cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, saying “no one is going to be thrown out on the street.”