{"argument_date":"2014-02-26T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2014-02-26T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","paragraphs":["Highmark's counsel argued that the Federal Circuit's de novo standard was wrong.","Allcare's counsel argued that the de novo standard is correct for legal questions.","Justices questioned the relationship between claim construction and the standard of review."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 21-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-47"}]}],"caption":"Highmark, Inc. v. Allcare Health Management System, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.970761Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Parties dispute whether appellate courts must defer to lower courts when reviewing patent fee awards.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2014-02-26T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-1163.html","primary_docket":"12-1163","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T20:53:33.041640Z","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 concerns the standard of review for patent fee awards. Highmark argues for a deferential standard. Allcare argues for a de novo standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 26, 2014."],"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/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Highmark wants the Supreme Court to apply an abuse of discretion standard to fee awards.","Allcare wants the Supreme Court to apply a de novo standard to fee awards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Highmark argues that prior Supreme Court cases support a deferential standard for similar fee disputes.","Allcare argues that the de novo standard is appropriate because claim construction involves legal questions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito questioned why the attorneys' fees context is special compared to other legal issues.","Justice Kagan asked how a judge measures the difference between correct and mistaken claim constructions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 21-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome determines how much deference appellate courts give to lower courts in patent fee disputes. This affects the cost and risk of patent litigation for all parties."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"}]},{"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 11, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 21-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-47"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-1163-highmark-inc-v-allcare-health-management-system-inc","term":"2013","title":"Should courts defer to lower courts when reviewing patent fee awards?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1163_ifkn.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-27"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}