discovery rule

“Time zone arbitrage” is an investment practice that takes advantage of the time difference between markets in the United States and abroad but that may harm international institutional investors. In its initial action against defendants, Marc J. Gabelli and Bruce Alpert (collectively, “Gabelli”), the SEC alleged that Gabelli allowed a single investor in the mutual fund they managed to engage in a time zone arbitrage.  The SEC argued that Gabelli committed securities fraud by allowing such a practice while simultaneously representing to the directors and investors of the mutual fund that time zone arbitrage would not be tolerated. The SEC action was dismissed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for having exceeded the statute of limitations. However, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed, stating that the period did not begin running for statute of limitations purposes until the SEC discovered the alleged misconduct, rather than when the alleged misconduct first occurred. The defendants now appeal, arguing that potential targets of government enforcement actions should not have to live under the constant threat of penalty for conduct long since passed. The SEC counters that wrongdoers should not benefit by virtue of their conduct being more difficult to uncover. The Supreme Court’s resolution of this case will have long lasting implications on the government’s efforts to regulate the securities market.

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Issues

This case asks the Supreme Court to determine whether the one-year statute of limitations in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) begins once a violation occurs or once the violation is discovered. Petitioner Kevin Rotkiske, whose FDCPA lawsuit was barred by the statute of limitations, argues that the Court should apply the discovery rule and determine that the limitations period begins when the violation is discovered. He argues that the FDCPA should be interpreted in light of common law and precedent which hold that the discovery rule is applicable to suspend statutes of limitations. Respondent Paul Klemm counters that the Court need only read the FDCPA’s plain language to determine that Congress intended the statute-of-limitations period to begin at the time the violation occurred. He too points to precedent that supports his argument that Congress knows how to implement the discovery rule but—based on the FDCPA’s explicit language—chose not to do so. This case has implications for the purpose and history of the FDCPA and its statute of limitations and could affect blameless victims and marginalized communities.

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