{"argument_date":"2006-10-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-10-10T00:00:00Z","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/2006/05-746.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Phillips argued the core issue is the equivalence doctrine under FELA.","Ms. Perry argued the lower court instruction correctly stated federal law.","Justice Scalia questioned the likelihood of a massive legal change."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-39"}]}],"caption":"Norfolk Southern R. Co. v. Sorrell","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.328586Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a railroad must prove a direct causal link between a worker's negligence and their injury to reduce damages.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-10-10T00:00:00Z","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/05-746.html","primary_docket":"05-746","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:14:48.236023Z","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":["Norfolk Southern Railway seeks to overturn a lower court ruling. The lower court applied a standard requiring a direct causal link. The railroad argues this standard is incorrect under federal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 10, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Norfolk Southern wants the Court to reject the direct causal link standard.","Sorrell wants the Court to keep the direct causal link standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Norfolk Southern argues the common law doctrine of equivalence applies under FELA.","Sorrell argues the lower court instruction accurately states federal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked about the specific wording of the requested negligence charge.","Chief Justice Roberts noted the instruction tracks statutory language closely."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-39"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how courts calculate worker negligence in injury claims. It determines the financial liability of railroads for workplace accidents. It shapes the legal standard for proving causation in federal employment law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"}]},{"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 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-39"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-746-norfolk-southern-r-co-v-sorrell","term":"2006","title":"Does FELA require a direct causal link between plaintiff negligence and injury?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-746.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 51-21"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}