{"argument_date":"2013-03-19T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-03-19T00:00:00Z","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/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","paragraphs":["The government argued that the Vaccine Act does not provide for an award of attorneys' fees on a petition that is denied as untimely.","the side that brought the case argued that Section 15(e)(1) makes any petition filed under Section 11 eligible for fees, even if denied, provided two conditions are met.","Justice Ginsburg asked whether the parties file anything in the Federal Register.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if the side that brought the case's conclusion is that the deadline is not jurisdictional. He later asked if the Court should say a deadline is jurisdictional if it sounds that way to secure a win. Justice Kagan asked if the Department subtracts untimely petitions from its congressional reports. Justice Sotomayor noted the government concedes the deadline is not jurisdictional."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-31"}]}],"caption":"Sebelius v. Cloer","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.466116Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the Vaccine Act permits attorneys to collect fees when a court dismisses a claim for filing too late.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-03-19T00:00:00Z","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/12-236.html","primary_docket":"12-236","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:05:25.418604Z","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 Vaccine Act fee provision. The government argues the statute bars fees for untimely filings. the side that brought the case argues the statute allows fees even when a court denies a late claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 19, 2013."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to confirm that the Vaccine Act bars fee awards for petitions dismissed as untimely.","the side that brought the case wants the Court to hold that the Vaccine Act allows fee awards even when a court denies a late petition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government contends that the Vaccine Act does not provide for an award of attorneys' fees on a petition that is denied as untimely.","the side that brought the case contends that Section 15(e)(1) makes any petition filed under Section 11 eligible for fees, even if denied, provided two conditions are met."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked whether the parties file anything in the Federal Register.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if the side that brought the case's conclusion is that the deadline is not jurisdictional. He later asked if the Court should say a deadline is jurisdictional if it sounds that way to secure a win. Justice Kagan asked if the Department subtracts untimely petitions from its congressional reports. Justice Sotomayor noted the government concedes the deadline is not jurisdictional."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether attorneys can recover fees when a court dismisses a vaccine injury claim for being late. The outcome affects the financial risk lawyers take when filing these claims. It also shapes how the government reports untimely petitions to Congress. The ruling clarifies the scope of the Vaccine Act fee provision for all future cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"}]},{"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 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-31"}]}],"slug":"2012-12-236-sebelius-v-cloer","term":"2012","title":"Does the Vaccine Act allow fees for late petitions?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 25-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-236_7758.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}