{"argument_date":"2005-04-20T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-04-20T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Hallward-Driemeier argued the statute text supports a six-year limit.","Mr. Hurt stated the statutory text clearly requires a six-year limit.","Justice Stevens questioned if retaliation victims often bring qui tam actions.","Justice Breyer noted the broad business support for the district's position."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-37"}]}],"caption":"Graham County Soil & Water Conservation Dist. v. United States ex rel. Wilson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.346014Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The parties dispute whether a six-year or three-year limit bars a worker's retaliation claim.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-04-20T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-169.html","primary_docket":"04-169","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:32:56.865524Z","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":["This case tests the statute of limitations for False Claims Act retaliation suits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 20, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The district seeks a six-year limit for the retaliation claim.","The worker seeks a three-year limit for the retaliation claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The district argues the statute text mandates a six-year limit.","The worker argues the retaliation claim falls outside the six-year rule."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked if retaliation victims often bring qui tam actions.","Justice Breyer asked about the practical impact on businesses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-37"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome sets the deadline for workers to sue for retaliation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"}]},{"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 10, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-37"}]}],"slug":"2004-04-169-graham-county-soil-water-conservation-dist-v-united-states-ex-rel-wilson","term":"2004","title":"Does the six-year limit apply to False Claims Act retaliation claims?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 13-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-169.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 33-54"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}