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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Litigation and Other Legal Matters In the normal course of business and as a result of the consumer-oriented nature of the industry in which we operate, we and other industry participants are frequently subject to various consumer claims, litigation, and regulatory investigations seeking damages, fines, and statutory penalties. The claims allege, among other theories of liability, violations of state, federal, and foreign truth-in-lending, credit availability, credit reporting, consumer protection, warranty, debt collection, insurance, and other consumer-oriented laws and regulations, including claims seeking damages for alleged physical and mental harm relating to the repossession and sale of consumers’ vehicles and other debt collection activities. As the assignee of Consumer Loans originated by Dealers, we may also be named as a co-defendant in lawsuits filed by consumers principally against Dealers. We may also have disputes and litigation with Dealers. The claims may allege, among other theories of liability, that we breached the Dealer servicing agreement. We may also have disputes and litigation with vendors and other third parties. The claims may allege, among other theories of liability, that we breached a license agreement or contract. The damages, fines, and penalties that may be claimed by consumers, regulatory agencies, Dealers, vendors, or other third parties in these types of matters can be substantial. The relief requested by plaintiffs varies but may include requests for compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages and injunctive relief, and plaintiffs may seek treatment as purported class actions or they may file individual arbitration demands for which arbitration providers may request separate filing fees. Current actions to which we are a party include the following matters: On December 1, 2021, we received a subpoena from the Office of the Attorney General for the State of California seeking documents and information regarding GAP products, GAP product administration, and refunds. We are cooperating with this inquiry and cannot predict the eventual scope, duration, or outcome at this time. As a result, we are unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of reasonably possible loss arising from this investigation. On May 7, 2019, we received a subpoena from the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau of the Office of the New York State Attorney General, relating to the Company’s origination and collection policies and procedures in the state of New York. After May 7, 2019 through April 30, 2021, we received additional subpoenas from the Office of the New York State Attorney General relating to the Company's origination, collection, and securitization practices. On November 19, 2020 and August 23, 2022, we received letters from the Office of the New York State Attorney General indicating that it may commence litigation against the Company asserting violations of New York Executive Law § 63(12) and New York General Business Law §§ 349 and 352 et seq. and applicable federal laws, including but not limited to claims that the Company engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices in auto lending, debt collection, and asset-backed securitizations in the State of New York in violation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, New York Executive Law § 63(12), the New York Martin Act, and New York General Business Law § 349. See the description below of the lawsuit commenced by the Office of the New York State Attorney General on January 4, 2023. On April 22, 2019, we received a civil investigative demand from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“Bureau”) seeking, among other things, certain information relating to the Company’s origination and collection of Consumer Loans, TPPs, and credit reporting. After April 22, 2019 through March 7, 2022, we received additional subpoenas from the Bureau. On December 6, 2021, we received a Notice and Opportunity to Respond and Advise letter from the Staff of the Office of Enforcement (“Staff”) of the Bureau, stating that the Staff was considering whether to recommend that the Bureau take legal action against the Company for alleged violations of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (the “CFPA”) in connection with the Company’s consumer loan origination practices. See the description below of the lawsuit commenced by the Bureau on January 4, 2023. On January 4, 2023, the Office of the New York State Attorney General and the Bureau jointly filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging that the Company engaged in deceptive practices, fraud, illegality, and securities fraud in violation of New York Executive Law § 63(12) and New York General Business Law §§ 349 and 352, and that the Company engaged in deceptive and abusive acts and provided substantial assistance to a covered person or service provider in violation of the CFPA, 12 U.S.C. § 5531 and 12 U.S.C. § 5536(a)(1)(B). The complaint seeks injunctive relief, an accounting of all consumers for whom the Company provided financing, restitution, damages, disgorgement, civil penalties, and payment of costs. On March 14, 2023, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On August 7, 2023, the court stayed the action pending the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Ltd., No. 22-448. We are unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of reasonably possible loss arising from this litigation. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself in this matter. On March 18, 2016, we received a subpoena from the Attorney General of the State of Maryland, relating to the Company’s repossession and sale policies and procedures in the state of Maryland. On April 3, 2020, we received a subpoena from the Attorney General of the State of Maryland relating to the Company’s origination and collection policies and procedures in the state of Maryland. On August 11, 2020, we received a subpoena from the Attorney General of the State of Maryland restating most of the requests contained in the March 18, 2016 and April 3, 2020 subpoenas, making additional requests, and expanding the inquiry to include 41 other states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. Also on August 11, 2020, we received from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey a subpoena that is essentially identical to the August 11, 2020 Maryland subpoena, both as to substance and as to the jurisdictions identified. The Company has been informed that the State of Kansas, the State of Texas, and the State of Iowa have withdrawn from the multistate investigation. We are cooperating with these investigations and cannot predict their eventual scope, duration, or outcome at this time. As a result, we are unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of reasonably possible loss arising from these investigations. On December 9, 2014, we received a civil investigative subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice pursuant to the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 directing us to produce certain information relating to subprime automotive finance and related securitization activities. We have cooperated with the inquiry, but cannot predict the eventual scope, duration, or outcome at this time. As a result, we are unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of reasonably possible loss arising from this investigation. An adverse ultimate disposition in any action to which we are a party or otherwise subject could have a material adverse impact on our financial position, liquidity, and results of operations. Litigation Resolved during 2022 On October 2, 2020, a shareholder filed a putative class action complaint against the Company, its Chief Executive Officer (now former Chief Executive Officer), and its Chief Financial Officer (now Chief Executive Officer) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, promulgated thereunder, based on alleged false and/or misleading statements or omissions regarding the Company and its business, and seeking class certification, unspecified damages plus interest and attorney and expert witness fees, and other costs on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired Credit Acceptance common stock from November 1, 2019 through August 28, 2020. In 2022, the Company reached an agreement to make an aggregate cash payment of $12.0 million, all of which was recognized during the second quarter of 2022, to settle claims brought on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Credit Acceptance common stock from May 4, 2018 through August 28, 2020, and provided for a full release of all claims against all defendants, including the Company and its officers. On December 16, 2022, the court entered a final order and judgment consistent with the settlement agreement, including dismissal with prejudice of all claims asserted against the Company and its officers. Regulatory Matters Resolved during 2021 On August 30, 2020, we were served with a complaint, filed by the Attorney General in Massachusetts Superior Court in Suffolk County, alleging that the Company engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices in subprime auto lending, debt collection and asset-backed securitizations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, M.G.L. c. 93A. The complaint sought injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties and payment of the Commonwealth’s attorney’s fees and costs. On September 1, 2021, we entered into a settlement agreement with the Office of the Attorney General, reflecting the parties’ agreement to settle and fully resolve the claims asserted against us. We made a payment in the total amount of $27.2 million, which was recognized as a contingent loss during the first quarter of 2021, to an independent trust for purposes of making payments to provide relief for eligible Massachusetts consumers, paying costs of implementation of the agreement and paying the Attorney General’s costs of investigation, and to pay up to $95,000 to cover costs and expenses incurred by an independent trustee for management of the independent trust. On April 23, 2019, the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, on behalf of the State of Mississippi, filed a complaint in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, alleging that the Company engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices in subprime auto lending, loan servicing, vehicle repossession and debt collection in the State of Mississippi in violation of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act. On December 15, 2021, the Company announced its settlement of litigation with the Mississippi Attorney General. As part of the settlement, the Company made a charitable donation of $125,000, paid $325,000 to the State of Mississippi, inclusive of attorney’s fees and expenses, and provided certain assurances relating to, among other things, continued compliance with laws applicable to indirect auto finance operations in Mississippi and disclosures to consumers purchasing an optional vehicle service contract. The Attorney General agreed to dismiss the litigation, and Credit Acceptance made no admission of liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Lease Commitments We lease office equipment and, until December 31, 2022, we also leased office space. We expect that, in the normal course of business, leases will be renewed or replaced by other leases. Total rental expense on all operating leases was $1.2 million for 2023, $1.3 million for 2022, and $1.4 million for 2021. Contingent rentals under the operating leases were insignificant. Our total minimum future lease commitments under operating leases as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
(In millions) |  |
Year |  | Minimum Future Lease Commitments
2024 |  | $ | 1.5 |
2025 |  | 0.9 |
2026 |  | 0.6 |
2027 |  | — |
2028 |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 3.0 |

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