{"argument_date":"2018-04-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2018-04-18T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2017","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Geyser argued the statute covers lost income and necessary expenses.","Mr. Huston argued the statute enables recovery for any investigation participation.","Justice Breyer posed a hypothetical about a private investigator hired by a company.","Justice Roberts asked if government-requested private investigations would be covered."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-53"}]}],"caption":"Lagos v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.748275Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.755112Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether victims can recover private investigation expenses under federal restitution law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2018-04-18T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2017","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/16-1519.html","primary_docket":"16-1519","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:16:07.728742Z","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 asks if the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act covers private investigation costs. the side that brought the case Lagos seeks recovery for these expenses. The United States opposes this interpretation. The Court must define the scope of covered expenses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2018."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Lagos wants the Court to allow recovery of private investigation costs.","The United States wants the Court to limit restitution to government investigation costs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Lagos argues the statute covers all necessary expenses during any investigation.","The United States argues the statute only covers government-led investigations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if this view creates perverse incentives for creditors.","Justice Kennedy asked if these costs are non-dischargeable in civil actions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-53"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the financial scope of federal victim restitution. It determines which investigation costs victims can recover. The outcome shapes future restitution claims for crime victims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"}]},{"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 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-53"}]}],"slug":"2017-16-1519-lagos-v-united-states","term":"2017","title":"Does the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act cover private investigation costs?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1519_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 53-31"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}