{"argument_date":"2004-03-23T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-03-23T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2003","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","paragraphs":["Estrada argued participants may seek consequential and punitive damages.","Feldman argued the government position appears in a brief footnote.","Mattax argued Texas law imposes a duty of ordinary care.","Young argued the case involves complete preemption doctrine."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 5-7"}]}],"caption":"Aetna Health Inc. v. Davila","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.347330Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.357414Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Insurers argue federal law blocks state tort claims. Patients argue state law allows such suits.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-03-23T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2003","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/02-1845.html","primary_docket":"02-1845","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:50:52.238161Z","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 federal ERISA law preempts state tort claims for denied benefits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 23, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 5-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Aetna wants the Court to bar state tort damages claims.","Davila wants the Court to allow state tort damages claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Aetna argues ERISA completely preempts state tort law.","Davila argues state law imposes independent duties on insurers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Rehnquist asked what damages the government thinks are recoverable.","Rehnquist asked Estrada to respond to three specific points."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 5-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal preemption over state tort law. It determines whether patients can seek punitive damages in state courts. It shapes the balance between federal uniformity and state consumer protections."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"}]},{"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 14, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 5-7"}]}],"slug":"2003-02-1845-aetna-health-inc-v-davila","term":"2003","title":"Can ERISA participants sue insurers in state court for tort damages?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-1845.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 41-1"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}