{"argument_date":"2000-10-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2000-10-30T00:00:00Z","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/2000/99-859.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case Timothy Jones stated his property suffers damage from water leaking out of the Madera Canal.","Jones described the canal as an irrigation facility that passes water to Madera County farmers.","Government advocate Frederick explained that multiple-purpose projects operate like the Friant Division.","Frederick noted the Friant Dam collects water to avert flooding along the San Joaquin River. He added that the project gradually releases water to serve both flood control and irrigation needs."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-9"}]}],"caption":"Central Green Co. v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:33.687327Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Farmers claim the government must pay for crop damage caused by leaking irrigation water.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2000-10-30T00:00:00Z","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/99-859.html","primary_docket":"99-859","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T18:28:11.519725Z","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":["The dispute centers on whether the government must compensate private landowners for water damage. The water originates from a canal serving both flood control and irrigation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 30, 2000."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case seeks monetary compensation for property damage caused by leaking canal water.","The government seeks to avoid paying compensation for water released from a dual-purpose project."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the government must pay because the canal is an irrigation facility causing direct damage.","The government argues the project serves multiple purposes, including flood control, which changes liability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked the side that brought the case to clarify his identity during the opening remarks."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when the government must pay for water damage from public infrastructure. It sets the standard for liability involving dual-purpose water projects. The outcome determines financial responsibility for farmers affected by canal leaks."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"}]},{"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/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-9"}]}],"slug":"2000-99-859-central-green-co-v-united-states","term":"2000","title":"Does the government owe compensation for water damage from a dual-purpose canal?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 37-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-859.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}