{"argument_date":"2000-11-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2000-11-29T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2000","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","paragraphs":["Roy Dripps argued both statutes should apply.","He claimed the company used the Limited Liability Act improperly.","He stated this action destroys rights Congress granted to Lewis.","Chief Justice Rehnquist closed the oral argument session."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 35-37"}]}],"caption":"Lewis v. Lewis & Clark Marine, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:33.619202Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A seaman seeks full damages under the Jones Act. The shipowner argues the Limited Liability Act caps those damages.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2000-11-29T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2000","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/99-1331.html","primary_docket":"99-1331","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T18:19:53.703181Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["James Lewis sued Lewis & Clark Marine for injuries. He claims the Jones Act grants him specific rights. The company argues the Limited Liability Act restricts its financial exposure. The Court must decide if these statutes conflict."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 29, 2000."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Lewis wants full compensation under the Jones Act.","Lewis & Clark Marine wants a liability cap under the Limited Liability Act."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Lewis argues the Jones Act grants specific seaman rights.","Lewis & Clark Marine argues the Limited Liability Act caps damages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["How do the Jones Act and Limited Liability Act interact?","Does the Limited Liability Act override Jones Act rights?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 35-37"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the financial exposure of shipowners. It determines the compensation available to injured seamen. It clarifies the scope of federal maritime liability laws."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 35-37"}]}],"slug":"2000-99-1331-lewis-v-lewis-clark-marine-inc","term":"2000","title":"Can a shipowner limit liability to defeat a seaman's Jones Act claim?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 11-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1331.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}