2009 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

12-31-2009

Louis Vallies v. Sky Bank

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Precedential

Docket No. 08-4160

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PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

No. 08-4160

LOUIS R. VALLIES, Individually and

on behalf of all similarly situated vehicle buyers,

 Appellant

v.

SKY BANK, an Ohio bank, licensed to do 

business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

On Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Pennsylvania

D.C. Civil Action No. 01-cv-01438

(Honorable David Stewart Cercone)

Argued September 9, 2009

Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge,

RENDELL and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.
2

(Filed: December 31, 2009)

ERIN M. BRADY, ESQUIRE (ARGUED)

MICHAEL P. MALAKOFF, ESQUIRE

Malakoff & Brady, P.C.

Suite 200, The Frick Building

437 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

Attorneys for Appellant

MARTIN C. BRYCE, JR., ESQUIRE (ARGUED)

ALAN S. KAPLINSKY, ESQUIRE

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP

1735 Market Street, 51 Floor st

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Attorneys for Appellee

MATTHEW A. BRINEGAR, ESQUIRE

Center for Responsible Lending

910 17th Street, N.W., Suite 500

Washington, D.C. 20006

Attorney for Amici Curiae-Appellant,

Center for Responsible Lending,

National Consumer Law Center,

National Association of Consumer Advocates

JAN T. CHILTON, ESQUIRE

Severson & Werson
 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a). 1

3

One Embarcadero Center, Suite 2600

San Francisco, California 94111

Attorney for Amici Curiae-Appellee,

American Bankers Association,

American Financial Services Association,

Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors,

Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America,

Consumer Bankers Association,

Consumer Mortgage Coalition,

Financial Services Roundtable,

Mortgage Bankers Association,

Pennsylvania Bankers Association

OPINION OF THE COURT

SCIRICA, Chief Judge.

In this putative class action, the sole issue presented by

this appeal is whether a plaintiff must prove detrimental reliance

in order to recover actual damages sustained because of a

disclosure violation under § 1640(a) of the Truth in Lending 1

Act (“TILA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601–67. The District Court,

following persuasive authority from our sister courts of appeals,

concluded that detrimental reliance was required, and granted
 The putative class allegedly includes tens of thousands of 2

consumers who financed their purchases of motor vehicles with

loans from Sky Bank.

TILA’s rules are implemented through Regulation Z, 12 3

C.F.R. Pt. 226, issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1604. Regulation Z

compels the creditor to disclose “[t]he items required by

§ 226.4(d) in order to exclude certain insurance premiums and

debt cancellation fees from the finance charge.” 12 C.F.R.

§ 226.18(n). For voluntary debt cancellation fees, these

requirements are: “(A) The debt cancellation agreement or

coverage is not required, and this fact is disclosed in writing; (B)

The fee or premium for the initial term of coverage is

disclosed. . . . ; (C) The consumer signs or initials an affirmative

written request for coverage after receiving the disclosures . . . .”

12 C.F.R. § 226.4(d)(3)(i).

4

summary judgment for defendant because plaintiff failed to

plead and could not prove detrimental reliance. We will affirm.

I.

Louis Vallies brought a putative class action on behalf of

consumers who had obtained loans from Sky Bank to finance

purchases of motor vehicles, claiming Sky Bank violated TILA 2

disclosure requirements, specifically 12 C.F.R. § 226.4(d). 

3
5

Vallies and Sky Bank had entered into a Loan Note and

Security Agreement, which financed an automobile and other

items, including a premium of $395 for Guaranteed Auto

Protection (“GAP”), a form of debt cancellation insurance

covering any loan deficiency which may remain in the event

property insurance was insufficient to cover complete property

loss. This charge was not calculated into the “finance charge”

as required by TILA. In addition, instead of itemizing the GAP

premium individually, the loan agreement combined it with a

$1395 service contract charge, and disclosed the two generally

as $1790 to be paid to National Auto, the service contract seller.

At the same time, Vallies also signed the GAP Waiver

Agreement with the automobile dealer, Phil Fitts Ford, which

contained the statements required by TILA. Sky Bank was not

a party to the GAP Waiver Agreement.

The District Court initially granted Sky Bank’s motion to

dismiss for failure to state a claim, holding that Sky Bank did

not violate TILA because the necessary disclosures had been

made to Vallies—not by Sky Bank, but by the automobile dealer

Phil Fitts Ford, a third party. Alternatively, the District Court

concluded that under TILA, each creditor is not required to

make all relevant disclosures. We reversed and remanded,

holding that “the creditor, and the creditor alone, is required to

disclose . . . required information.” Vallies v. Sky Bank, 432

F.3d 493, 495 (3d Cir. 2005). On remand, Sky Bank moved for

summary judgment, asserting that it fulfilled its TILA

obligations through an undisclosed agent. After the District
 The District Court exercised jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 4

§ 1331 and 15 U.S.C. § 1640(e). We have appellate jurisdiction

under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

6

Court denied summary judgment, the parties settled Vallies’s

statutory damage claims under 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(2) for the

maximum statutory amount of $501,000. The District Court

certified a class exclusively for settlement purposes and

approved the settlement.

The settlement, however, explicitly did not cover

Vallies’s actual damage claims under 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(1).

Sky Bank moved for summary judgment on these claims,

arguing that Vallies cannot recover actual damages because he

failed to plead and cannot prove detrimental reliance. The

District Court held that to recover actual damages, Vallies must

show “(1) he read the TILA disclosure statement; (2) he

understood the charges being disclosed; (3) had the disclosure

statement been accurate, he would have sought a lower price;

and (4) he would have obtained a lower price.” Mem. Order at

10. Finding that Vallies “got all of the required information and

voluntarily elected to incur the debt cancellation insurance when

he purchased his vehicle,” the District Court concluded he could

not satisfy the third or fourth element recited, and granted Sky

Bank’s motion for summary judgment. Id. Vallies now

appeals.4
 See United States v. Petroff-Kline, 557 F.3d 285, 297 (6th 5

Cir. 2009) (“[A]ctual damages require a showing of detrimental

reliance.”); McDonald v. Checks-N-Advance, Inc. (In re

Ferrell), 539 F.3d 1186, 1192 (9th Cir. 2008) (finding no valid

basis to overturn the rule requiring a showing of detrimental

reliance to establish actual damages); Gold Country Lenders v.

Smith (In re Smith), 289 F.3d 1155, 1157 (9th Cir. 2002) (“We

join with other circuits and hold that in order to receive actual

damages for a TILA violation . . . a borrower must establish

detrimental reliance.”); Turner v. Beneficial Corp., 242 F.3d

1023, 1028 (11th Cir. 2001) (en banc) (“We hold that

detrimental reliance is an element of a TILA claim for actual

damages . . . .”); Perrone v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 232

F.3d 433, 434–40 (5th Cir. 2000) (holding that detrimental

reliance is an element of a claim for actual damages and

7

II.

This case presents a question of statutory interpretation,

and “[o]ur review of questions of statutory interpretation is

plenary.” Direct TV Inc. v. Seijas, 508 F.3d 123, 125 (3d Cir.

2007). Although we have not had an opportunity to examine

this issue, we have previously noted that “[s]everal courts have

held that detrimental reliance is an element of establishing actual

damages under TILA.” In re Cmty. Bank of N. Va., 418 F.3d

277, 302 n.20 (3d Cir. 2005). In fact, every court of appeals that

has spoken on this issue has required a showing of detrimental

reliance. Most district courts are in accord. Even Vallies 5 6
rejecting numerous arguments to the contrary); Stout v. J.D.

Byrider, 228 F.3d 709, 718 (6th Cir. 2000) (affirming the denial

of class certification based on the need for individualized

assessment of whether “each putative class member relied upon

false representations or failures to disclose”); Peters v. Jim

Lupient Oldsmobile Co., 220 F.3d 915, 917 (8th Cir. 2000)

(requiring a showing of proximate causation and adopting a

four-prong reliance test for establishing actual damages); Bizier

v. Globe Fin. Servs., Inc., 654 F.2d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 1981) (noting

in dicta the need to show causation for an award of actual

damages “in addition to a threshold showing of a violation of a

TILA requirement”).

 See e.g., Warburton v. Foxtons, Inc., No. 04-2474, 2005 WL 6

1398512, at *9–10 (D.N.J. June 13, 2005); Nevarez v. O’Connor

Chevrolet, Inc., 303 F. Supp. 2d 927, 934 (N.D. Ill. 2004); In re

Currency Conversion Fee Antitrust Litig., 265 F. Supp. 2d 385

(S.D.N.Y. 2003); Cannon v. Cherry Hill Toyota, Inc., 161 F.

Supp. 2d 362 (D.N.J. 2001); Anderson v. Rizza Chevrolet, Inc.,

9 F. Supp. 2d 908, 913–14 (N.D. Ill. 1998); Brister v. All Star

Chevrolet, Inc., 986 F. Supp. 1003, 1008 (E.D. La. 1997);

Barlow v. Evans, 992 F. Supp. 1299, 1301 (M.D. Ala. 1997);

Cirone-Shadow v. Union Nissan, 955 F. Supp. 938, 943 (N.D.

Ill. 1997); Wiley v. Earl’s Pawn & Jewelry, Inc., 950 F. Supp.

1108, 1114–15 (S.D. Ala. 1997); Adiel v. Chase Fed. Sav. &

Loan Ass’n, 630 F. Supp. 131, 133–35 (S.D. Fla. 1986), aff’d,

810 F.2d 1051 (11th Cir. 1987); McCoy v. Salem Mortgage Co.,

8
74 F.R.D. 8, 12–13 (E.D. Mich. 1976). But see Lopez v. Orlor,

176 F.R.D. 35, 40 (D. Conn. 1997) (granting class certification

and rejecting the argument that TILA plaintiffs cannot recover

actual damages unless they could have gotten more favorable

terms elsewhere); Sutliff v. County Sav. & Loan Co., 533 F.

Supp. 1307, 1313 (N.D. Ohio 1982) (measuring actual damages

to be the difference between the improperly increased interest

rate and the original interest rate); In re Russell, 72 B.R. 855,

857 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1987) (concluding that actual damages are

available for “substantial” TILA violations without the need to

prove detrimental reliance).

9

concedes the great weight of authority favors the detrimental

reliance standard. Accordingly, the core theme underlying

Vallies’s numerous arguments is that the weight of authority is

wrong. In a thorough and well-reasoned opinion, the District

Court rejected Vallies’s challenges, correctly holding that a

showing of detrimental reliance is necessary to recover actual

damages for TILA disclosure violations.

A.

The Truth in Lending Act provides a range of remedies

to achieve its goals. First, it authorizes the Federal Trade

Commission as its overall enforcement agency, 15 U.S.C.

§ 1607(c), and provides other federal agencies with enforcement

power over certain categories of lenders, 15 U.S.C. § 1607(a).

The enforcement agencies are authorized to remediate unlawful

finance charges by requiring adjustments of consumers’
10

accounts. 15 U.S.C. § 1607(e)(1). Second, TILA imposes

criminal liability for knowing and willful violations. 15 U.S.C.

§ 1611. Finally, TILA creates a private cause of action for

actual damages, 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(1), and also for statutory

damages, 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(2). For class action suits arising

out of the same TILA violation, Congress capped the recovery

of statutory damages to the lesser of $500,000 or 1% of the

defendant’s net worth. 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(2)(B). As the Court

of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit observed, “[u]nder this

regime, statutory damages provide at least a partial remedy for

all material TILA violations; however, actual damages ensure

that consumers who have suffered actual harm due to a lender’s

faulty disclosures can be fully compensated . . . .” Turner v.

Beneficial Corp., 242 F.3d 1023, 1026 (11th Cir. 2001) (en

banc). As noted, the parties here settled the statutory damage

claims under § 1640(a)(2) for the maximum statutory amount,

and the putative class is now seeking actual damages under

§ 1640(a)(1).

“[E]very exercise of statutory interpretation begins with

an examination of the plain language of the statute.” Rosenberg

v. XM Ventures, 274 F.3d 137, 141 (3d Cir. 2001). The statute

here provides in part:

Except as otherwise provided in this section, any creditor

who fails to comply with any requirement imposed under

this part, including any requirement under section 1635

of this title, subsection (f) or (g) of section 1641 of this

title, or part D or E of this subchapter with respect to any
11

person is liable to such person in an amount equal to the

sum of —

(1) any actual damage sustained by such person as

a result of the failure;

(2)

(A) (i) in the case of an individual action

twice the amount of any finance charge in

connection with the transaction, (ii) in the

case of an individual action relating to a

consumer lease under part E of this

subchapter, 25 per centum of the total

amount of monthly payments under the

lease, except that the liability under this

subparagraph shall not be less than $100

nor greater than $1,000, or (iii) in the case

of an individual action relating to a credit

transaction not under an open end credit

plan that is secured by real property or a

dwelling, not less than $400 or greater

than $4,000; or

(B) in the case of a class action, such

amount as the court may allow, except that

as to each member of the class no

minimum recovery shall be applicable, and

the total recovery under this subparagraph

in any class action or series of class actions

arising out of the same failure to comply

by the same creditor shall not be more than
12

the lesser of $500,000 or 1 per centum of

the net worth of the creditor; 

(3) in the case of any successful action to enforce

the foregoing liability or in any action in which a

person is determined to have a right of rescission

under section 1635 of this title, the costs of the

action, together with a reasonable attorney's fee as

determined by the court; and 

(4) in the case of a failure to comply with any

requirement under section 1639 of this title, an

amount equal to the sum of all finance charges

and fees paid by the consumer, unless the creditor

demonstrates that the failure to comply is not

material.

In determining the amount of award in any class action,

the courtshall consider, among other relevant factors, the

amount of any actual damages awarded, the frequency

and persistence of failures of compliance by the creditor,

the resources of the creditor, the number of persons

adversely affected, and the extent to which the creditor’s

failure of compliance was intentional. . . . 

15 U.S.C. § 1640(a). The Act, therefore, provides for different

forms of compensatory damages—actual damages under

§ 1640(a)(1), and statutory damages for individuals under

§ 1640(a)(2)(A) and for class actions under § 1640(a)(2)(B).

Actual damages are treated differently from statutory damages

and have their own definition. The definition of the term “actual
 See generally Eugene J. Kelley, Jr. & John L. Ropiequet, 7

Actual Damages Under the TILA: Collapsing Class Actions, 55

13

damages” is “[a]n amount awarded to a complainant to

compensate for a proven injury or loss; damages that repay

actual losses.” Black’s Law Dictionary 445 (9th ed. 2009).

Coupled with the phrase “sustained by such person as a result of

the failure,” the statute “links the loss to the failure to disclose.”

Perrone v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 232 F.3d 433, 436

(5th Cir. 2000); see also Peters v. Jim Lupient Oldsmobile Co.,

220 F.3d 915, 916–17 (8th Cir. 2000) (applying the traditional

definition of the term “actual damages” to require that plaintiff

proves an injury or loss). The plain meaning of § 1640(a)

requires causation to recover actual damages. In the context of

TILA disclosure violations, a creditor’s failure to properly

disclose must cause actual damages; that is, without detrimental

reliance on faulty disclosures (or no disclosure), there is no loss

(or actual damage). See, e.g., Gold Country Lenders v. Smith (In

re Smith), 289 F.3d 1155, 1157 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing dictionary

definition of “actual damages” to conclude that a borrower must

establish detrimental reliance); Turner, 242 F.3d at 1028

(finding that the statute’s language indicates drafters’ intention

that plaintiffs must demonstrate detrimental reliance to recover

actual damages).

Some commentators have noted that under a detrimental

reliance standard, actual damages for TILA disclosure violations

may be difficult to prove. Furthermore, detrimental reliance 7
Consumer Fin. L.Q. Rep. 200, 206 (Spring-Fall, 2001),

reprinted in Truth in Lending, 2008 Supplement 469 (Alvin C.

Harrell ed. 2008); Ralph J. Rohner & Fred H. Miller, Truth in

Lending 805 (2000).

 The view of the government enforcement agencies charged 8

with enforcing TILA, cited by Vallies, does not assist in

14

may create obstacles for class certification because of the

individualized fact-specific nature of the reliance inquiry. See,

e.g., Perrone, 232 F.3d at 440 (denying class certification

“[s]ince individual reliance is necessary to prove actual

damages”); see generally Kelley & Ropiequet, supra note 7.

But the requirements of proving actual damages are dictated by

TILA’s remedial structure. By providing for statutory and

actual damages, the statute achieves its dual purpose of

deterrence and compensation. The compensatory remedy of

actual damages is permitted only in cases where the violation

caused harm—where harm was “sustained by [the consumer] as

a result of” the violation. 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(1). Without

detrimental reliance, only statutory damages are available.

B.

Because the statutory language of § 1640(a) is

unambiguous we need not look to legislative history to ascertain

the meaning of the statute. Nonetheless, the legislative history

of TILA provides support for the necessity to establish

detrimental reliance to recover actual damages:8
interpreting § 1640(a) because the Joint Notice of Statement of

Enforcement Policy, 44 Fed. Reg. 1222 (Jan. 4, 1979), deals

solely with the regulatory enforcement provision under § 1607.

 The legislative history cited refers to the Truth in Lending 9

Amendments of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-29, 109 Stat. 271 (Sept.

30, 1995). Congress was then contemplating increasing caps on

statutory damages and creating different remedies for disclosure

violations involving real property loans. This legislative history

is relevant because at the time Congress necessarily considered

the meaning of the then-existing remedies. Barnes v. Cohen,

749 F.2d 1009, 1015–16 (3d Cir. 1984) (“[S]tatements as to

legislative intent made by legislators subsequent to the

enactment of a statute are . . . entitled to consideration as an

expert opinion concerning [the statute’s] proper interpretation.”

15

Section 130(a) of TILA allows a consumer to recover

both actual and statutory damages in connection with

TILA violations. However, statutory damages are

provided in TILA because actual damages, which require

proof that the borrower suffered a loss in reliance upon

the inaccurate disclosure, are extremely difficult to

establish. To recover actual damages, consumers must

show that they suffered a loss because they relied on an

inaccurate or incomplete disclosure.

141 Cong. Rec. 26567, 26576 (1995) (statement of Rep.

McCollum, co-author of legislation); see also H.R. Rep. No. 9
(internal quotations and citations omitted)).

 See also Adiel v. Chase Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 630 F. 10

Supp. 131, 134 (S.D. Fla. 1986) (noting the difficulty of

establishing causation for actual damages was “the very impetus

behind the legislative decision to construct a workable scheme

of statutory damages”); McCoy v. Salem Mortgage Co., 74

F.R.D. 8, 12 (E.D. Mich. 1976) (“[I]t seems likely that if actual

damages could be computed by a simple formula, no statutory

damage provision would have been necessary.”).

16

104-193, at 99 (1995) (“To recover actual damages, consumers

must show that they suffered a loss because they relied on an

inaccurate or incomplete disclosure.”). Statutory damages

provide a compensatory remedy for TILA violations and also

effectuate TILA’s deterrence objectives. Actual damages

compensate those consumers who have suffered actual harm

because of the violations. Statutory damages “are provided in

TILA because actual damages, which require proof that the

[consumer] suffered a loss in reliance upon the inaccurate

disclosure, are extremely difficult to establish.” 141 Cong. Rec.

26758, 26898 (1995) (statement of Sen. Mack). TILA’s 10

legislative history supports our conclusion that a showing of

detrimental reliance is required to recover actual damages for

TILA disclosure violations.
 The said clause of § 1640(a) states: 11

In determining the amount of award in any class action,

the courtshall consider, among other relevant factors, the

amount of any actual damages awarded, the frequency

and persistence of failures of compliance by the creditor,

the resources of the creditor, the number of persons

17

C.

Vallies contends the reliance requirement is incompatible

with other provisions in TILA, such as § 1607(e)(2)(d) that

exempts remediation of finance charges where technical

violations “have not misled or otherwise deceived the

consumer.” 15 U.S.C. § 1607(e)(2)(d). The absence of similar

language in § 1640(a)(1), Vallies contends, demonstrates lack of

Congressional intent to impose a reliance requirement on actual

damages claims. But this ignores the fact that proof of “actual

damages” under § 1640(a)(1) requires a showing of causation

and actual loss. Congress’s failure to include the above-quoted

language in § 1640(a)(1) does not support a reasonable

inference that it did not intend the detrimental reliance

requirement.

Vallies also argues the detrimental reliance requirement

conflicts with other language in § 1640. We disagree. It does

not conflict with the clause in § 1640(a), instructing the courts

to consider “the amount of any actual damages awarded” when

setting statutory damages in a class action. 15 U.S.C.

§ 1640(a). The statute creates no presumption that actual 11
adversely affected, and the extent to which the creditor’s

failure of compliance was intentional.

 Section 1640(g) states: 12

The multiple failure to disclose to any person any

information required under this part or part D or E of this

subchapter to be disclosed in connection with a single

account under an open end consumer credit plan, other

single consumer credit sale, consumer loan, consumer

lease, or other extension of consumer credit, shall entitle

the person to a single recovery under this section but

continued failure to disclose after a recovery has been

granted shall give rise to rights to additional recoveries.

This subsection does not bar any remedy permitted by

section 1635 of this title. 

18

damages will be awarded—courts must consider actual damages

if they are awarded. See Perrone, 232 F.3d 439 n.6 (“There is

no logical connection between this statement [in § 1640(a)] and

the separate question of what formula to apply for measuring

actual damages.”).

Likewise, the detrimental reliance requirement does not

conflict with § 1640(g), which provides consumers additional

recoveries for post-judgment TILA violations. 15 U.S.C.

§ 1640(g). Vallies’s assertion that it is not possible for a 12

consumer to rely on post-recovery TILA violations is incorrect.

For example, a consumer, who previously recovered for harm
19

caused by inaccurate bank statements, could rely on later

inaccuracies, believing that a creditor had corrected the

violation. Moreover, § 1640(g) does not distinguish between

actual damages and statutory damages. Thus, additional

recoveries in the form of statutory damages might be available

under § 1640(g) even where detrimental reliance cannot be

proven.

Contrary to Vallies’s arguments, the Regulatory

Enforcement provision, 15 U.S.C. § 1607, and the Correction of

Errors provision, 15 U.S.C. § 1640(b), do not identify a test for

recovery of actual damages resulting from TILA disclosure

violations. The Regulatory Enforcement provision authorizes

relevant enforcement agencies to require creditors to adjust

borrower accounts to remedy disclosure violations. But this

grant of authority to seek restitutionary damages does not mean

the same authority is given to private litigants. Furthermore, a

creditor’s liability is limited not only by regulatory discretion,

but also by the statute itself in circumstances where the

adjustment “would have a significantly adverse impact upon the

safety or soundness of the creditor.” 15 U.S.C. § 1607(e)(3)(A).

No such limitation exists for private litigants under § 1640.

Accordingly, the authority provided to the enforcing agencies

under § 1607 cannot be equated with the rights of private

litigants under § 1640.

Nor are there conflicts with the Correction of Errors

provision. Section 1640(b) provides creditors with a safe harbor

from liability for TILA disclosure violations when creditors
 Section 1640(b) states: 13

A creditor or assignee has no liability under this section

or section 1607 of this title or section 1611 of this title

for any failure to comply with any requirement imposed

under this part or part E of this subchapter, if within sixty

days after discovering an error, whether pursuant to a

final written examination report or notice issued under

section 1607 (e)(1) of this title or through the creditor’s

or assignee’s own procedures, and prior to the institution

of an action under this section or the receipt of written

notice of the error from the obligor, the creditor or

assignee notifies the person concerned of the error and

makes whatever adjustments in the appropriate account

are necessary to assure that the person will not be

required to pay an amount in excess of the charge

actually disclosed, or the dollar equivalent of the annual

percentage rate actually disclosed, whichever is lower. 

20

choose to make adjustmentsto borrower accounts “to assure that

the person will not be required to pay an amount in excess of the

charge actually disclosed, or the dollar equivalent of the annual

percentage rate actually disclosed, whichever is lower.” 15

U.S.C. § 1640(b). While this provision explicitly establishes 13

a formula for account adjustments the creditors must make to

avail themselves of safe-harbor protections, it does not turn

actual damages into a restitution remedy. The Correction of

Errors provision is not mandatory. It provides a shield from

liability for disclosure violations to creditors who choose to
21

correct them. Section 1640(b) shields creditors from both civil

liability and regulatory enforcement. Accordingly, contrary to

Vallies’s arguments, the provision provides creditors an

economic incentive to self-correct disclosure violations, even

where actual damages might not be recoverable, because the

enforcement agencies have authority under TILA to seek

restitutionary adjustments. 15 U.S.C. § 1607(e).

D.

Vallies’s search for support in otherstatutes is unavailing

because those statutes address different subject matters. The

provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”), 15

U.S.C. §§ 1691–1691f, which prohibits credit discrimination on

the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital

status, or age, do not conflict with the detrimental reliance

requirement. Section 1691e(a) provides that “[a]ny creditor who

fails to comply with any requirement imposed under [ECOA]

shall be liable to the aggrieved applicant for any actual damages

sustained by such applicant.” Although both ECOA’s

§ 1691e(a) and TILA’s § 1640(a)(1) employ “any actual

damage” language, under ECOA, the measure of actual damages

is harm caused by creditors’ unlawful discriminatory behavior.

Similarly, the civil liability provisions of the Electronic

Funds Transfer Act (“EFTA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1693–1693r, do not

conflict with requiring a showing of detrimental reliance to

recover actual damages for TILA disclosure violations. EFTA

employs the same language as § 1640(a)(1) to define liability for
 Section 1693b(d)(3) states: 14

(A) In general

The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall

require any automated teller machine operator who

imposes a fee on any consumer for providing host

transfer services to such consumer to provide notice in

accordance with subparagraph (B) to the consumer (at

the time the service is provided) of—

(i) the fact that a fee is imposed by such operator

for providing the service; and 

(ii) the amount of any such fee. 

(B) Notice requirements

(i) On the machine 

The notice required under clause (i) of

subparagraph (A) with respect to any fee

described in such subparagraph shall be posted in

a prominent and conspicuous location on or at the

automated teller machine at which the electronic

fund transfer is initiated by the consumer. 

(ii) On the screen 

The notice required under clauses (i) and (ii) of

subparagraph (A) with respect to any fee

described in such subparagraph shall appear on

the screen of the automated teller machine, or on

22

actual damages. 15 U.S.C. § 1693m(a)(1). But actual damages

for violations of EFTA’s “notice” provisions, 15 U.S.C.

§ 1693b(d)(3)(B), which are analogous to violations of TILA 14
a paper notice issued from such machine, after the

transaction is initiated and before the consumer is

irrevocably committed to completing the

transaction, except that during the period

beginning on November 12, 1999, and ending on

December 31, 2004, this clause shall not apply to

any automated teller machine that lacks the

technical capability to disclose the notice on the

screen or to issue a paper notice after the

transaction is initiated and before the consumer is

irrevocably committed to completing the

transaction. 

(C) Prohibition on fees not properly disclosed and

explicitly assumed by consumer

No fee may be imposed by any automated teller machine

operator in connection with any electronic fund transfer

initiated by a consumer for which a notice is required

under subparagraph (A), unless—

(i) the consumer receives such notice in

accordance with subparagraph (B); and

(ii) the consumer elects to continue in the manner

necessary to effect the transaction after receiving

such notice.

23

disclosure provisions, require a showing of detrimental reliance.

See, e.g., Voeks v. Pilot Travel Ctrs., 560 F. Supp. 2d 718, 725

(E.D. Wis. 2008) (“To show actual damages under

§ 1693m(a)(1) a plaintiff must plead and prove detrimental
24

reliance.”); Martz v. PNC Bank, N.A., No. Civ A 06-1075, 2007

WL 2343800, at *7–8 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 15, 2007) (referencing

cases requiring plaintiffs to establish causation of harm in the

form of detrimental reliance to recover actual damages for

violation of EFTA’s notice requirements); Brown v. Bank of

Am., N.A., 457 F. Supp. 2d 82, 90 (D. Mass. 2006) (holding that

detrimental reliance is required to recover actual damages for

violation of EFTA’s notice requirements); Polo v. Goodings

Supermarkets, Inc., 232 F.R.D. 399, 408 (M.D. Fla. 2004)

(accepting the contention that every potential class member must

prove detrimental reliance on erroneous fee postings to recover

actual damages under EFTA). Vallies points to Savrnoch v.

First Am. Bankcard, Inc., No. 07-C-0241, 2007 WL 3171302

(E.D. Wis. Oct. 26, 2007), where the court concluded reliance

was not required to obtain damages “for a violation of the

EFTA’s prohibition on fees not properly disclosed,

§ 1693b(d)(3)(C).” Id. at *3. But Savrnoch explicitly agreed

“that the plain language of § 1693m(a)(1) requires that

[Plaintiff] show causation of harm through detrimental reliance

when a plaintiff claims a violation of the EFTA’s notice

provisions, § 1693b(d)(3)(B).” Id. It then drew a “distinction

between § 1693b(d)(3)(C), a statutory provision prohibiting the

imposition of fees, and § 1693b(d)(3)(B), a statutory provision

requiring proper notice,” id. at *3, concluding “detrimental

reliance is not needed to prove causation” for alleged violations
This distinction, originally drawn by the same Magistrate 15

Judge in Mayotte v. Associated Bank, N.A., No. 07-C-0033,

2007 WL 2358646 (E.D. Wis. Aug. 17, 2007) and Voeks v. WalMart Stores, Inc., No. 07-C-0030, 2007 WL 2358645 (E.D. Wis.

Aug. 17, 2007), has been rejected in Voeks v. Pilot Travel Ctrs.,

560 F. Supp. 2d 718 (E.D. Wis. 2008). Because the claims here

are under TILA, and not EFTA, we make no judgment about

EFTA’s interpretation and express no opinion on whether the

distinction is appropriate.

 It appears Vallies did not raise the CEBA argument in the 16

District Court, and it has therefore been waived.

25

of § 1693b(d)(3)(C). Id. at *4. Because the distinction is 15

inapplicable to TILA, Savrnoch is inapposite.

The Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987

(“CEBA”), 12 U.S.C. § 3806, also does not conflict with the

detrimental reliance requirement. CEBA does not define a

disclosure requirement. It imposes a cap on the maximum

interest rate that may be applied to an adjustable rate mortgage

loan. 12 U.S.C. § 3806(a) (“Any adjustable rate mortgage loan

originated by a creditor shall include a limitation on the

maximum interest rate that may apply during the term of the

mortgage loan.”). Although CEBA requires that its violations

be treated as TILA violations, 12 U.S.C. § 3806(c), it creates no

inconsistency with the detrimental reliance requirement.16
26

Finally, the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on Rule 10b5 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 is inapposite

to our analysis here. Proof of a material misrepresentation or

omission may be sufficient to recover actual damages for Rule

10b-5 violations. See Basic, Inc. v. Levinson, 485 U.S. 224,

245–47 (1988); Mills v. Elec. Auto-Lite, 396 U.S. 375, 381–85

(1970). But Rule 10b-5 cases are distinguishable because they

involve the unique role of securities markets. “Because most

publicly available information is reflected in [the] market price,

an investor’s reliance on any public material misrepresentations,

therefore, may be presumed for purposes of a Rule 10b-5

action.” Basic, 485 U.S. at 992; see also Newton v. Merrill

Lynch, 259 F.3d 154, 174–77 (3d Cir. 2001) (discussing when

a presumption of reliance is proper in securities litigation). The

reliance presumption under Rule 10b-5, carved out specifically

for the unique nature of the securities markets, does not apply

here, and the District Court correctly refused to extend it to

§ 1640(a).

E.

There is also no inconsistency between the detrimental

reliance requirement and other TILA provisions that govern the

refund of prohibited prepayment penalties, 15 U.S.C. § 1615,

provide a borrower a right to rescind certain credit transactions

until all required material disclosures are delivered, 15 U.S.C.

§ 1635, and prohibit a variety of credit charges for certain

mortgages, 15 U.S.C. § 1639. That these TILA provisions

specifically provide for rescission and restitution-type remedies
 Notably, §§ 1615 and 1640 are unrelated because § 1640 17

defines civil liability for violations under Parts B, D, and E of

the statute, while § 1615 is within Part A. Section 1635

provides the rescission remedy independently, explicitly, and in

addition to civil damages under § 1640. 15 U.S.C. § 1635(g)

(“[I]n addition to rescission the court may award relief under

section 1640 . . . for violations . . . not relating to the right to

rescind.”); 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a) (defining civil liability for “any

creditor who fails to comply with any requirement [of TILA],

including any requirement under section 1635”). Similarly,

damages for the violation of § 1639 are defined independently

and explicitly in § 1640 itself. 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(4) (stating

that a creditor is liable “in the case of a failure to comply with

any requirement under section 1639 . . . [in] an amount equal to

the sum of all finance charges and fees paid by the

consumer . . . .”).

27

does not imply that detrimental reliance is not required to

recover actual damages for disclosure violations.17

We also reject Vallies’s attempt to distinguish the

violations claimed in this case from other disclosure violations

of TILA. In his Amended Complaint, Vallies claimed that Sky

Bank failed to disclose payments for GAP insurance, and to

account for GAP coverage as a “finance charge.” Therefore,

Vallies plainly alleged a disclosure violation of TILA. Because

TILA includes finance charges in the definition of “material

disclosures,” 15 U.S.C. § 1602(u), Vallies contends the recovery
28

of actual damages for a “material” violation does not require a

showing of detrimental reliance. But § 1640(a)(1) does not

reference “material disclosures” and does not provide for

distinct treatment of “material” violations for the purpose of

calculating actual damages. Therefore, the definition of

“material disclosures” in § 1602(u) has no relevance to

§ 1640(a)(1).

The sole authority potentially providing support for

distinguishing between different categories of disclosure

violations is In re Russell, 72 B.R. 855 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1987).

Russell articulated the test for actual damages as one where

there has been a “substantial violation” as opposed to a

“technical violation.” Id. at 863 (“We believe that actual

damages arise whenever a disclosure statement contains a

substantial violation, as opposed to a mere technical violation,

and that damages should be measured by the magnitude of the

violation.”). All courts since have rejected the Russell test. See,

e.g., Perrone, 232 F.3d at 438 (“Such a test ‘marks a radical

departure from established Truth in Lending case law.’”

(quoting D. Edwin Schmelzer, Truth in Lending Developments

in 1987: An Active Year on Several Fronts, 43 Bus. Law. 1041,

1067-68 (1988)); see also Ralph J. Rohner & Fred H. Miller,

Truth in Lending 806 n.101 (2000) (raising practical problems

with applying Russell and suggesting that if this decision is

emulated, it may radically alter the TILA balance by broadly

allowing reimbursement in a private action). Russell erred in its

categorization of disclosure violations because nothing in the
 In Schnall, we analyzed TILA to interpret former § 4310 of 18

the Truth in Savings Act (“TISA”), 12 U.S.C. §§ 4301–13,

which was closely modeled after TILA. 279 F.3d at 217.

29

text of TILA supports judicial discretion in distinguishing

“substantial” from “technical” violations. Similarly, nothing in

TILA would allow us to treat “material disclosure” violations

differently from violations of other TILA disclosure

requirements for purposes of recovery of actual damages under

§ 1640(a)(1).

F.

Vallies suggests the detrimental reliance requirement

conflicts with our opinions in Dzadovsky v. Lyons Ford Sales

Co., 593 F.2d 538 (3d Cir. 1979), and Schnall v. Amboy Nat’l

Bank, 279 F.3d 205 (3d Cir. 2002). In Dzadovsky, we stated that

a TILA violation is “presumed to injure a borrower by

frustrating” TILA’s purpose. But Dzadovsky involved solely a

claim for statutory damages. As noted, statutory damages do not

require detrimental reliance.

In Schnall, we stated that “the TILA jurisprudence

overwhelmingly rejects any reliance requirement.” Schnall, 279

F.3d at 219. Again, Schnall involved solely statutory damages. 18

In fact, we noted that “[t]o recover actual damages, however, a

plaintiff must obviously show that he suffered some financial

harm that he would not have suffered . . . .” Id. at 219 n.10; see

also id. at 215 n.5 (“Reliance might be relevant . . . for purposes
 We note that the District Court supported its grant of 19

summary judgment by reciting a four-prong test from the Eighth

Circuit: “a plaintiff must show that ‘(1) he read the TILA

disclosure statement; (2) he understood the charges being

disclosed; (3) had the disclosure statement been accurate, he

would have sought a lower price; and (4) he would have

obtained a lower price.’” Mem. Order at 10 (citing Peters, 220

F.3d at 917). No doubt a plaintiff who can satisfy the Peters test

will successfully establish detrimental reliance. Although Peters

has been influential in many courts, including those in our

circuit, e.g., Cannon v. Cherry Hill Toyota, Inc., 161 F. Supp. 2d

362 (D.N.J. 2001), others have used different language. For

accuracy-of-disclosure violations like the ones presented here,

30

of determining actual (in contrast to statutory) damages.”). In

sum, we have never rejected the requirement of detrimental

reliance to recover actual damages for TILA disclosure

violations.

III.

This case does not present an occasion to evaluate which

specific facts and circumstances constitute detrimental reliance

because Vallies does not contend that he relied on Sky Bank’s

disclosure violations. Because we find that a showing of

detrimental reliance is required to recover actual damages for a

TILA disclosure violation, and Vallies neither pled nor made

such showing, the grant of summary judgment was proper on the

claim for actual damages.19
other courts have held that detrimental reliance can be shown

where plaintiffs can establish that they would have foregone the

loan completely had they received and reviewed an accurate

disclosure. See, e.g., United States v. Petroff-Kline, 557 F.3d

285, 297 (6th Cir. 2009) (“To establish detrimental reliance, the

debtor must demonstrate that he or she would either have

received a better interest rate for the loans elsewhere or would

have elected not to take the loan had the required information

been available.”); McDonald v. Checks-N-Advance, Inc. (In re

Ferrell), 539 F.3d 1186, 1192 (9th Cir. 2008) (“The consumer

must show that she ‘would either have secured a better interest

rate elsewhere, or foregone the loan completely.’” (quoting Gold

Country Lenders v. Smith (In re Smith), 289 F.3d at 1157));

Stout v. J.D. Byrider, 228 F.3d 709, 718 (6th Cir. 2000). 

Nevertheless, plaintiff here does not assert and cannot

prove he detrimentally relied. This case does not present the

occasion to formulate factors that may constitute detrimental

reliance.

31