{"argument_date":"2006-03-28T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-03-28T00:00:00Z","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/2005/05-260.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Stris argued that the plan seeks monetary reimbursement from beneficiaries.","Mr. Coleman asserted that subrogation claims fit within equitable limits.","Mr. Feldman stated that the case seeks a specifically identifiable fund."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-41"}]}],"caption":"Sereboff v. Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.638182Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a health plan can force beneficiaries to return specific settlement money.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-03-28T00:00:00Z","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/05-260.html","primary_docket":"05-260","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:39:43.944526Z","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 scope of equitable relief under ERISA section 502(a)(3)."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to bar the plan from seeking specific funds.","the opposing sides want the Court to allow the plan to recover the settlement money."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue that contractual reimbursement claims are not equitable relief.","the opposing sides argue that subrogation claims are inherently equitable and enforceable."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked how the case differs from Barnes v. Alexander.","Justice Souter asked why an injunction is needed if funds are identifiable."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the financial remedies available to employee health plans."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"}]},{"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 3, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-41"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-260-sereboff-v-mid-atlantic-medical-services-inc","term":"2005","title":"Can ERISA plans use equitable relief to recover specific settlement funds?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-260.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 25-54"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}