{"argument_date":"2012-11-27T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-11-27T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Katyal argued ERISA allows plans to seek equitable relief to enforce terms.","Mr. Wessler argued subrogation claims are governed by equitable principles.","Mr. Palmore argued Section 502(a)(3) invokes the equitable powers of district courts."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-7"}]}],"caption":"US Airways, Inc. v. McCutchen","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.853616Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.889373Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"US Airways seeks full reimbursement from a settlement. McCutchen argues equity limits the recovery.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-11-27T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/11-1285.html","primary_docket":"11-1285","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:36:07.338352Z","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 dispute centers on whether equitable principles limit a health plan's right to recover costs from a third-party settlement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2012."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["US Airways wants full reimbursement of medical costs from the settlement.","McCutchen wants the plan's recovery limited by equitable principles."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["US Airways argues ERISA permits fiduciaries to seek equitable relief to enforce plan terms.","McCutchen argues reimbursement claims based on subrogation are subject to equitable principles."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked why the plan is not bound by equity if it seeks equitable relief.","Justice Scalia questioned whether the Court reviewed the specific plan language or general law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines how much a health plan recovers from a third-party settlement. It affects the financial balance between injured workers and their insurers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-31"}]},{"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 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 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41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-7"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-1285-us-airways-inc-v-mccutchen","term":"2012","title":"Can an ERISA plan recover full medical costs from a third-party settlement?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1285.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 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