{"argument_date":"2010-11-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-11-02T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Miller argued the employer is liable when a supervisor uses delegated authority to cause harm.","Mr. Davis argued the parties agree Linda Buck made the final decision to fire Staub.","Mr. Davis argued there is no evidence Linda Buck possessed animus toward Staub.","Mr. Schnapper argued agency law determines the employer's responsibility for specific officials."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-25"}]}],"caption":"Staub v. Proctor Hospital","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.373522Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Vincent Staub argues his supervisor's biased report caused his firing. Proctor Hospital argues the neutral manager's decision breaks the chain of liability.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-11-02T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/09-400.html","primary_docket":"09-400","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:58:04.878856Z","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":["The case tests whether an employer faces liability when a biased supervisor influences a neutral decisionmaker. The lower court ruled against Staub. It required the supervisor to exert singular influence over the final decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Staub wants the Court to hold the employer liable for the supervisor's biased report.","Proctor Hospital wants the Court to limit liability to the neutral decisionmaker's own motives."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Staub argues agency law makes the employer responsible for the supervisor's discriminatory actions.","Proctor Hospital argues the statute only covers actions by the official with discharge authority."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if a biased report alone is actionable under the statute.","Justice Scalia asked why lower supervisory employees' decisions trigger employer liability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-25"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the scope of employer liability for biased employees. It determines when a neutral manager's decision shields the company from legal responsibility."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"}]},{"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 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-25"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-400-staub-v-proctor-hospital","term":"2010","title":"Does a biased supervisor's report make an employer liable for a neutral manager's firing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 7-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}