{"argument_date":"2009-03-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-03-30T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Ostrager argued the Second Circuit properly confirmed the reorganization plan. He stated the plan resolved claims against Manville and its insurers. He emphasized the core jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court.","Mr. Issacharoff argued this is a question of jurisdiction. He stated the issue is whether a bankruptcy court may release non-debtors. He argued the order targets independent state law claims.","Mr. Cohn argued a bankruptcy discharge only wipes away a debtor's liability. He stated Travelers' interpretation gives broader protection than a standard discharge. He argued bankruptcy law does not erase a debtor's knowledge."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-51"}]}],"caption":"Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Bailey","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.454630Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Travelers seeks to block state law suits against insurers. Plaintiffs argue the bankruptcy court lacked power to release them.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-03-30T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-295.html","primary_docket":"08-295","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:14:44.695372Z","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 Indemnity Company and other insurers funded a reorganization plan for Johns-Manville. A bankruptcy court approved this plan. The plan included releases for the insurers. Plaintiffs filed state law claims against these insurers. Travelers argues the bankruptcy court had jurisdiction to grant these releases. Plaintiffs argue the bankruptcy court lacked power to release non-debtors from state law claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 30, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Travelers wants the Supreme Court to confirm the bankruptcy court's release order. Travelers wants to block state law claims against the insurers. Travelers argues the bankruptcy court had jurisdiction to grant these releases.","Plaintiffs want the Supreme Court to reverse the Second Circuit's decision. Plaintiffs want to proceed with their state law claims against the insurers. Plaintiffs argue the bankruptcy court lacked power to release non-debtors from state law claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Travelers argues the bankruptcy court had core jurisdiction to confirm the reorganization plan. Travelers argues the plan resolved present and future claims against Manville and its insurers. Travelers argues the release order was a proper exercise of bankruptcy power.","Plaintiffs argue the bankruptcy court cannot release non-debtors from state law claims. Plaintiffs argue the 1986 order gave Travelers broader protection than a standard discharge. Plaintiffs argue bankruptcy law does not erase a debtor's knowledge or grant immunity to non-debtors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the 1986 order expressly allowed already-filed misconduct claims to proceed. Justice Souter asked if the bankruptcy court intended to bar only unfiled actions.","Justice Scalia asked if the challenge could be based on both jurisdiction and statute. Justice Scalia asked if some things simply do not fall within bankruptcy power. Justice Scalia asked if releasing non-debtors from state claims fits within bankruptcy power."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of bankruptcy court power over non-debtors. It determines whether insurers can be released from state law claims. It affects the scope of reorganization plans involving third-party funding. It clarifies the boundary between federal bankruptcy jurisdiction and state law rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"}]},{"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 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-51"}]}],"slug":"2008-08-295-travelers-indemnity-co-v-bailey","term":"2008","title":"Can a bankruptcy court release non-debtor insurers from state law claims?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-295.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 35-47"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}