{"argument_date":"2005-10-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-10-12T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Maynard argued the Act waives immunity for federal employee torts.","She stated the Act applies private person liability principles.","She criticized the Ninth Circuit for using state entity standards.","Justice Kennedy questioned the liability of the United States for private inspectors."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-43"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Olson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.314245Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on which legal standards govern federal employee tort claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-10-12T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-759.html","primary_docket":"04-759","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:16:50.718082Z","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 case tests the scope of federal sovereign immunity waivers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The United States seeks application of private person liability standards.","Olson seeks application of state governmental entity liability standards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The United States argues the Act requires private person liability principles.","Olson argues the Act requires state entity liability principles."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked about hypothetical Arizona statutes for private inspectors.","Justice Souter asked about the relevance of a specific statutory section."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-43"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the legal standard for federal tort liability claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"}]},{"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 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-43"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-759-united-states-v-olson","term":"2005","title":"Does the Federal Tort Claims Act apply private or state liability standards?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-759.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}