{"argument_date":"2007-01-16T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-01-16T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","paragraphs":["Travelers claims the lower court rule exists outside the Bankruptcy Code.","Pacific Gas and Electric asserts state law provides for these fees.","Justice Kennedy asked about standard promissory notes in bankruptcy.","Justice Roberts asked if lawyers routinely recover fees in insolvency."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"caption":"Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. of America v. Pacific Gas & Elec. Co.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.064533Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.076603Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal bankruptcy law permits fee awards to unsecured creditors.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-01-16T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-1429.html","primary_docket":"05-1429","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:47:16.905298Z","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":["Travelers seeks to overturn a Ninth Circuit rule. Pacific Gas and Electric defends the lower court decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 16, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 27-29"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Travelers wants the Court to reject the Ninth Circuit rule.","Pacific Gas and Electric wants the Court to keep the fee award."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Travelers argues the rule creates unwarranted federal common law.","Pacific Gas and Electric argues state law standards apply to unsecured claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked if fees are normally recovered in such cases.","Justice Souter asked about the remoteness of the contingency here."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of fee awards in bankruptcy. It affects how unsecured creditors recover costs. It clarifies the structure of the Bankruptcy Code."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"}]},{"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 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-1429-travelers-casualty-surety-co-of-america-v-pacific-gas-elec-co","term":"2006","title":"Can a bankruptcy court award attorney fees to an unsecured creditor?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1429.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-25"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}