October Term 2001 · Docket 00-1045
When does the two-year clock start for Fair Credit Reporting Act claims?
The parties dispute whether the statute of limitations begins at the improper disclosure or when the plaintiff discovers the injury.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Henderson stated the statute has two parts. He noted the main part sets the limitation start date.
Mr. Nager explained the Ninth Circuit's holding. He said the clock starts upon injury discovery.
Mr. Jones addressed the misrepresentation exception. He claimed it does not negate the discovery rule.
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked about liability in a suit. He clarified the consequence of the legal interpretation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case concerns the timing of legal claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The core issue is the start date for the two-year limitation period.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 9, 2001.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
What each side wants
TRW Inc. wants the clock to start at the date of the improper disclosure.
Andrews wants the clock to start when she discovers the injury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
What each side says
TRW Inc. argues the statute sets a fixed start date for liability.
Andrews argues the discovery rule delays the start of the limitation period.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
What the justices asked
Does the misrepresentation exception negate the injury discovery rule?
When does liability arise under the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
Why it matters
This dispute determines when consumers can sue for credit reporting errors. It defines the window for seeking legal redress. It impacts the stability of credit reporting records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-58 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-58
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-15
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.