On November 4, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Jesinoski v. Countrywide, Docket No. 13-684, a Truth in Lending Act case arising from the Eighth Circuit.

The Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) is a comprehensive consumer protection statute that regulates the disclosure and, to a lesser extent, the substance of consumer loans. One of its most powerful provisions creates the right for consumer borrowers to rescind refinanced or second mortgages secured by their primary residence for any reason within three days after closing, or for up to three years post-closing if material disclosures are not given or are inaccurate. At issue in Jesinoski is whether merely mailing a notice of rescission within three years of closing a loan is sufficient to “exercise” the right to rescind under 15 U.S.C. § 1635(a) or, alternatively, whether a borrower who wants to rescind the loan must file a lawsuit within the three-year statutory period.

The case has garnered considerable attention from the banking industry and consumer advocates because it stands to resolve a circuit split. The Third, Fourth and Eleventh Circuits have ruled that mailing a letter notifying the creditor of the borrower’s intent to cancel within the three-year period is enough exercise the right to rescind. Conversely, our Circuit, the Ninth, and the First, Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits hold that the three-year period set forth in 15 U.S.C. §1635(f) to exercise the “right of rescission” requires a borrower to file a lawsuit within three years of consummation of the loan. Because resolution of this and related TILA rescission issues is so critical to preserving borrowers’ rights, six of amicus briefs have been filed.

Those interested in following the progress of Jesinowski can subscribe to updates on the SCOTUSblog website at http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/jesinoski-v-countrywide-home-loans-inc/