{"argument_date":"2016-03-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2016-03-22T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Martinez argued a Section 2680 dismissal triggers the judgment bar.","He stated the bar applies to any FTCA judgment.","Justice Alito questioned the definition of a technical judgment.","Mr. Ramirez argued the Postal Reorganization Act applies the FTCA."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 52-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 46-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 36-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-24"}]}],"caption":"Simmons v. Himmelreich","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.341081Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case argue a Section 2680 dismissal bars new suits. the opposing sides argue it does not.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2016-03-22T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/15-109.html","primary_docket":"15-109","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:03:08.095568Z","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 Federal Tort Claims Act. It asks if a specific dismissal ends the right to sue."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2016."],"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/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the dismissal to bar new lawsuits.","the opposing sides want the dismissal to allow new lawsuits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue a Section 2680 dismissal is a judgment.","the opposing sides argue a Section 2680 dismissal is not a judgment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked about the meaning of the statutory phrase.","Justice Alito asked what a technical judgment means."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 52-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 46-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 36-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-24"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when a dismissal ends a plaintiff's right to sue. It clarifies the scope of the Federal Tort Claims Act."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"}]},{"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 52-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 52-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 46-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 36-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 22-24"}]}],"slug":"2015-15-109-simmons-v-himmelreich","term":"2015","title":"Does a dismissal under Section 2680 trigger the FTCA judgment bar?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 4-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-109_b07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 20-38"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}