1. Civil Rights

a. Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Award Act, 42 U.S.C. 1988 - covers due process, equal protection, violation of federal law, etc.

b. Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services & Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, 29 U.S.C. 794 (a).

c. Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1975, 42 U.S.C. 19731 (e).

d. Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000a-3 (b) (public accommodations) 2000e-5(k) (employment).

e. Age Discrimination In Federally Assisted Programs, 42 U.S.C. 610(e)(1).

f. Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3612(c).

g. Education for the Handicapped Act, 20 U.S.C. 1415(e)(4)(B).

h. Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12205.

2. Employment

a. COBRA of 1986 - continuation of health care insurance coverage - see ERISA, Section II(e), infra.

b. Federal Employee Merit System Protection (Civil Service), 5 U.S.C. 7701(g) (Appeal of Agency Personnel Action); Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. 5596(b)(1)(A)(ii).

c. Fair Labor Standards Act, Equal Pay Act, 29 U.S.C. 216(b).

d. Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act. 33 U.S.C. 928.

e. Employees Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. 1132(g)(1), 29 U.S.C. 1451(a)(2)(e).

f. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. 626(b).

3. Consumer Protection

a. Bankruptcy laws, Title 11, U.S.C., e.g.

• §362, violation of stay and contempt theories

• §366, termination of utility services

• §524, protection of discharge

• §525(a), injunction against discrimination

• Bankruptcy Rule 9011 (frivolous pleadings)

• 42 USC 1988, actions against state/local governments

• Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. 2412(d)(1)(A), and as to

IRS, 26 USC 7430.

• federal and state consumer protection laws

See, Consumer Bankruptcy Law & Practice, § 16.5 (9th Ed. 2009), National Consumer Law Center

b. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692k.

c. Truth-in-Lending Act, including HOEPA, 15 U.S.C. 1640(a), 1667 (b), 1667d(a), 1681N, 1691e(d).

d. Consumer Leasing Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. 1667(a), 1667d(a).

e. Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681n, 1681o.

f. Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691e(d).

g. Electronic Fund Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. 1693m(a), (f).

h. Health - Emergency Medical Treatment (anti-dumping act), 42 U.S.C. 1395dd(d)(2)(A) and 42 U.S.C. 1983.

i. Housing & Community Development Act, 15 U.S.C. 1709(c).

j. Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Improvement Act, 15 U.S.C. 2310(d)(2).

k. Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (Odometer Law), 15 U.S.C. 1918(a).

l. Household Goods Transportation Act of 1980, 49 U.S.C. 11711(d), (e).

m. Condominium and Coop. Conversion Protection & Abuse Relief Act of 1980, 15 U.S.C. 3608(d), 3611(d).

5. Other

a. Suits against federal agencies - Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. 2412(d)(1)(A).

b. Civil tax litigation with Internal Revenue Service, 26 U.S.C. 7430 (if IRS position not substantially justified). Fees may be awarded for pro bono work.

26 USC 7430(c)(3)(B); see Morrison v. C.I.R., 565 F.3d 658 (9th Cir. 2009).

c. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - 5 U.S.C. 522(a)(4)(E).

d. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 11; Rules 26 et seq.

e. Labor Organizations- e.g. Labor Management Relations Act of 1959, 29 U.S.C. 431(c).

f. Sunshine & Privacy- e.g., Government in Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(I); Privacy Protection - 42 U.S.C. 2000 aa-6(f) and 12 U.S.C. 2417(a)(4).