DISCOVER CARD MASTER TRUST I
8-K, 2000-01-25
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
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<PAGE>   1

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                          Pursuant to Section 13 of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2000


                          Discover Card Master Trust I
             ------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



       Delaware                     0-23108                      51-0020270
       --------                     -------                      ----------
      (State of                   (Commission                  (IRS Employer
    Organization)                 File Number)               Identification No.)


c/o Greenwood Trust Company
12 Read's Way
New Castle, Delaware                                                19720
- ----------------------------------------------                      -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)


Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code:  (302) 323-7184
                                                     --------------

Former name or former address, if changed since last report:  Not Applicable



<PAGE>   2


Item 5.  Other Events

               Series 2000-1. On January 20, 2000, the registrant made available
to investors a prospectus supplement and prospectus, each dated January 20,
2000, with respect to the issuance of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class A Credit Card Pass-Through Certificates and
$26,316,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class B
Credit Card Pass-Through Certificates of Discover Card Master Trust I (the
"Trust"), pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of October
1, 1993, between Greenwood Trust Company ("Greenwood") as Master Servicer,
Servicer and Seller and U.S. Bank National Association (formerly First Bank
National Association, successor trustee to Bank of America Illinois, formerly
Continental Bank, National Association) as Trustee, as amended, and the Series
Supplement for Series 2000-1, to be dated as of January 27, 2000, between
Greenwood Trust Company as Master Servicer, Servicer and Seller and U.S. Bank
National Association as Trustee.

               In connection with the issuance of Series 2000-1, Latham &
Watkins, counsel to Greenwood and the Trust, has delivered (i) an opinion to
Greenwood (as originator of the Trust), dated January 24, 2000, regarding the
legality of the Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class A Credit Card Pass-Through
Certificates and the Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class B Credit Card
Pass-Through Certificates upon issuance and sale thereof on January 27, 2000;
and (ii) an opinion to Greenwood (as originator of the Trust), dated January 24,
2000, as to certain federal tax matters concerning the Series 2000-1 Floating
Rate Class A Credit Card Pass-Through Certificates and the Series 2000-1
Floating Rate Class B Credit Card Pass-Through Certificates. A copy of the
opinion as to legality is attached as Exhibit 5, and the opinion as to certain
tax matters is attached as Exhibit 8.

Item 7.        Exhibits

Exhibit No.    Description

Exhibit 5      Opinion of Latham & Watkins.

Exhibit 8      Opinion of Latham & Watkins as to certain federal tax matters
               concerning the Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates of
               Series 2000-1.

Exhibit 23     Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5).



                                     PAGE 2
<PAGE>   3


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                  Discover Card Master Trust I
                                     (Registrant)


                                  By:   Greenwood Trust Company
                                        (Originator of the Trust)



Date:  January 24, 2000           By:   /s/ John J. Coane
                                        -----------------------------
                                        John J. Coane
                                        Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
                                        and Treasurer





                                     PAGE 3
<PAGE>   4


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.      Description
- -----------      -----------

Exhibit 5        Opinion of Latham & Watkins.

Exhibit 8        Opinion of Latham & Watkins as to certain federal tax matters
                 concerning the Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates of
                 Series 2000-1.

Exhibit 23       Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5).















                                     PAGE 4

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                         [LATHAM & WATKINS LETTERHEAD]



                                January 24, 2000










Greenwood Trust Company, as Originator
  of Discover Card Master Trust I
12 Read's Way
New Castle, Delaware 19720

            Re:     Discover Card Master Trust I, Series 2000-1
                    Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            At your request, we have examined your Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-62263), together with the exhibits thereto (the
"Registration Statement"), registering credit card pass-through certificates
representing undivided interests in the Discover Card Master Trust I (the
"Trust") and the related Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement, each dated
January 20, 2000 (together, the "Prospectus"), filed by you with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class
A Credit Card Pass-Through Certificates and Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class B
Credit Card Pass-Through Certificates (together, the "Series 2000-1
Certificates"). The Series 2000-1 Certificates will be issued pursuant to the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement (the "Pooling and Servicing Agreement") dated as
of October 1, 1993, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of your
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-71502), as amended by
the First Amendment to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of August
15, 1994, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Trust's
Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 1, 1995, by the Second Amendment to the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of February 29, 1996, which is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Trust's Current Report on Form
8-K dated April 30, 1996, by the Third Amendment to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, dated as

<PAGE>   2

Greenwood Trust Company
January 24, 2000
Page 2


of March 30, 1998, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(d) of the
Trust's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on April 13, 1998, and by the
Fourth Amendment to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of November
30, 1998, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Trust's
Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 30, 1998, and as supplemented by a
related Series Supplement (the "Series 2000-1 Supplement"), a copy of the form
of which is included as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement and the
specific terms of which are summarized in the Prospectus, each by and between
Greenwood as Master Servicer, Servicer and Seller and U.S. Bank National
Association (formerly First Bank National Association, successor trustee to Bank
of America Illinois, formerly Continental Bank, National Association) as
Trustee. We are familiar with the proceedings taken by Greenwood as originator
of the Trust in connection with the authorization of the issuance and sale of
the Series 2000-1 Certificates, and have examined such documents and such
questions of law and fact as we have deemed necessary in order to express the
opinion hereinafter stated.

            We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transactions
of only United States federal law and the laws of the State of New York, and we
express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto or the effect
thereon of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal
law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.

            Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion, as of the date
hereof, that the Series 2000-1 Certificates, upon issuance and sale thereof in
the manner described in the Prospectus and as provided in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement and the related Series 2000-1 Supplement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and enforceable in accordance with their
terms and entitled to the benefits of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and
the related Series 2000-1 Supplement, except as the same may be limited by (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors, and (ii) general principles of equity (whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and by the discretion of the
court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

            In rendering our opinion, we have assumed that, upon or prior to the
issuance and sale of the Series 2000-1 Certificates, (i) the Series 2000-1
Supplement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, (ii)
all documents required to be executed and delivered in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Series 2000-1 Certificates will be so executed and
delivered by properly authorized persons, and (iii) the respective purchase
prices for the Class A Certificates and the Class B Certificates of Series
2000-1, as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, will be paid
to you by the various underwriters named in the Prospectus.



<PAGE>   3

Greenwood Trust Company
January 24, 2000
Page 3


            We hereby consent to the filing of (i) this opinion and (ii) the
opinion to be filed as Exhibit 8, in each case as part of the Trust's Current
Report on Form 8-K, dated January 24, 2000.

                                         Very truly yours,



                                         /s/  Latham & Watkins



<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 8

                         [LATHAM & WATKINS LETTERHEAD]




                                January 24, 2000






Greenwood Trust Company
12 Read's Way
New Castle, Delaware 19720

            Re:    Discover Card Master Trust I, Series 2000-1
                   Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-62263), registering credit card pass-through certificates
representing undivided interests in the Discover Card Master Trust I (the
"Trust") and the related Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement, each dated
January 20, 2000 (together, the "Prospectus"), to be filed by you with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance pursuant to the Registration
Statement of Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class A Credit Card Pass-Through
Certificates and Series 2000-1 Floating Rate Class B Credit Card Pass-Through
Certificates (together, the "Series 2000-1 Certificates"), you have requested
our opinion regarding the description of material tax consequences related to
the issuance of the Series 2000-1 Certificates (the "Offering") as described in
the Prospectus. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

            Our opinion is based on our examination of the Prospectus, the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of October 1, 1993, as amended (the
"Pooling Agreement") between Greenwood as Master Servicer, Servicer and Seller
and U.S. Bank National Association (formerly First Bank National Association,
successor trustee to Bank of America Illinois, formerly Continental Bank,
National Association) as Trustee, and such other documents, instruments and
information as we considered necessary. Our opinion also is based on (i) the
assumption that neither the Trustee nor any affiliate thereof will become either
the Servicer or the delegee of the


<PAGE>   2
Greenwood Trust Company
January 24, 2000
Page 2

Servicer; (ii) the assumption that all agreements relating to the creation of
the Trust will remain in full force and effect; (iii) the assumption that all
agreements and documents required to be executed and delivered in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Series 2000-1 Certificates will be so executed
and delivered by properly authorized persons in substantial conformity with the
drafts thereof as described in the Prospectus and such agreements will remain in
full force and effect; (iv) currently applicable provisions of the federal
income tax laws, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority and
current administrative rulings and practice; and (v) a legal opinion rendered by
local tax counsel retained by Greenwood relative to the income tax laws of
Delaware (upon which we have relied for purposes of rendering our opinion with
respect to the laws of Delaware).

            Based on the foregoing, as of the date hereof, we adopt and confirm
the statements under the captions "Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "State
Tax Consequences" as our opinion of the material tax consequences of the
Offering, to the extent such statements constitute legal conclusions.


                                          Very truly yours,


                                          /s/ Latham & Watkins




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