{"argument_date":"2012-02-28T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-02-28T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Fisher argued Congress created a specific statutory cause of action.","Ms. Ferguson stated the term individual is unambiguous in U.S. law.","Mr. Gannon argued the ordinary meaning limits scope to natural persons."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 46-48"}]}],"caption":"Mohamad v. Palestinian Authority","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.432246Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek damages from a foreign government. the opposing sides argue the statute only covers natural persons.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-02-28T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/11-88.html","primary_docket":"11-88","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:08:16.736115Z","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 the scope of the Torture Victim Protection Act. the sides that brought the case want to sue a foreign authority. the opposing sides argue the law limits liability to individuals."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2012."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want to hold a foreign authority liable for damages.","the opposing sides want the Court to limit liability to natural persons."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the statute allows suits against foreign entities.","the opposing sides argue the word individual excludes corporate entities."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if legal representatives can be corporate entities.","Justice Sotomayor noted the statute uses the word person elsewhere."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 46-48"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who can face liability under federal law. It clarifies the scope of civil remedies for human rights abuses. It impacts how victims seek compensation from foreign actors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"}]},{"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 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 46-48"}]}],"slug":"2011-11-88-mohamad-v-palestinian-authority","term":"2011","title":"Does the Torture Victim Protection Act cover corporate entities?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 8-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 14-32"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}