{"argument_date":"2014-12-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2014-12-10T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Martinez argued the text and history show Congress wanted a strict bar.","Mr. Schnapper noted two different background rules are at issue here.","justice_questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 42-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 10-12"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Kwai Fun Wong","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.547885Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.579464Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The government argues the statute bars late claims. The plaintiff argues fairness allows an extension.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2014-12-10T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/13-1074.html","primary_docket":"13-1074","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T20:10:23.687778Z","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":["This case tests whether a strict time limit in the Federal Tort Claims Act allows courts to extend deadlines for good cause."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2014."],"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/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 13-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the time limit to be absolute.","The plaintiff wants the court to allow a late filing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the text makes the deadline jurisdictional.","The plaintiff argues fairness principles should apply to the deadline."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked why a 1972 statute differs from later laws.","Justice Kagan asked if the argument applies to other time limits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 42-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 10-12"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines when courts can extend strict filing deadlines for tort claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"}]},{"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 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 42-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 10-12"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-1074-united-states-v-kwai-fun-wong","term":"2014","title":"Does the Federal Tort Claims Act time limit allow equitable tolling?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1074_k4m8.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 34-10"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}