{"argument_date":"2006-04-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-04-25T00:00:00Z","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/2005/05-200.pdf","paragraphs":["The insurer's counsel argued the case arises under federal law because it enforces a federal government contract.","The employee's counsel argued the contract rights are private, not federal, under existing legal inquiries.","Chief Justice Roberts probed the validity of the legal authority cited by the insurer's counsel.","Justice Ginsburg questioned whether the statute actually requires a federal forum for these reimbursement claims."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 1-17"}]}],"caption":"Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. v. McVeigh","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.491516Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.508345Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a private insurer must pay a federal employee for medical costs after a tort settlement.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-04-25T00:00:00Z","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/05-200.html","primary_docket":"05-200","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:26:00.100194Z","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 legal nature of a federal employee health plan contract. The core issue is whether enforcing this specific contract constitutes a federal claim. The outcome determines which court system handles these reimbursement disputes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The insurer wants the Supreme Court to reverse the dismissal and allow its federal claim to proceed.","The employee wants the Supreme Court to affirm the dismissal and keep the case out of federal court."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The insurer argues the contract enforces federal government duties, creating a federal claim under federal law.","The employee argues the contract is a private agreement, so the claim lacks a federal basis."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the legal authority cited by the insurer has ever been applied in twenty years.","Chief Justice Roberts questioned why a private employee relationship qualifies as a government contract for these purposes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 1-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the jurisdiction for federal employee health plan reimbursement disputes. It clarifies whether private insurers can sue in federal court to recover costs from tort settlements. The ruling shapes the legal landscape for federal benefits administration and private contract enforcement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}]},{"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 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 1-17"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-200-empire-healthchoice-assurance-inc-v-mcveigh","term":"2005","title":"Does a federal employee health plan contract create a federal claim?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-200.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}