{"argument_date":"2007-04-23T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-04-23T00:00:00Z","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/2006/06-562.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Hungar argued that the opposing side seeks to circumvent statutory limitations by manufacturing a parallel mechanism for relief.","Mr. Armstrong stated that a cost recovery action is an equitable action for restitution without a jury trial.","Mr. Geck noted that more than 400,000 contaminated sites require the work of private parties for cleanup."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-35"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Atlantic Research Corp.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.830095Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a party responsible for pollution can use a specific statute to recover costs from other responsible parties.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-04-23T00:00:00Z","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/06-562.html","primary_docket":"06-562","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:25:58.860849Z","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 a federal cleanup statute. It asks if a liable party can sue other liable parties for cost recovery."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to bar the opposing side from using the cost recovery statute against other liable parties.","the opposing side wants the Court to allow the use of the cost recovery statute to recover costs from other liable parties."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that Congress created a specific mechanism for liable parties to share costs, which limits their options.","the opposing side argues that the cost recovery statute allows any private party to seek restitution for cleanup expenses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the court must determine the innocence of the party bringing the action first.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the Court was wrong to say the statute provides a cause of action for private parties in a prior case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who can sue for pollution cleanup costs. It determines the financial burden on private parties and the government. It shapes the legal framework for environmental liability nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"}]},{"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 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-35"}]}],"slug":"2006-06-562-united-states-v-atlantic-research-corp","term":"2006","title":"Can a liable party sue other liable parties for cleanup costs?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-562.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 35-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}