{"argument_date":"2008-04-14T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-04-14T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Becker argued both questions should be answered yes.","He stated the plaintiff must rely on the misrepresentation.","Mr. Debruin claimed the sides that brought the case submitted false affidavits.","He stated they filled the auction room with related entities."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-13"}]}],"caption":"Bridge v. Phoenix Bond & Indemnity Co. Long Family Land & Cattle Co.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.100001Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek damages for liens they claim rivals won through fraud. the opposing sides argue the law requires direct reliance.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-04-14T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/07-210.html","primary_docket":"07-210","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T03:35:52.427210Z","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 civil RICO fraud claims. the sides that brought the case want compensation for lost bids. the opposing sides want to limit liability to direct victims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 14, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want a damages award for lost auction bids.","the opposing sides want dismissal of the fraud claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue RICO covers injuries proximately caused by fraud.","the opposing sides argue the statute requires direct reliance on lies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the text supports a proximate cause standard.","Justice Kennedy asked if the tort fails without the fraud violation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines who can sue for fraud under RICO. It sets the boundary for civil liability in auction disputes. It clarifies the link between criminal acts and civil damages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"}]},{"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 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-13"}]}],"slug":"2007-07-210-bridge-v-phoenix-bond-indemnity-co-long-family-land-cattle-co","term":"2007","title":"Must a RICO fraud plaintiff rely on the misrepresentation?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 11-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 47-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 47-35"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}