{"argument_date":"2019-12-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-12-03T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's counsel argued state law should apply to determine ownership.","the opposing side's counsel argued the question turns on the parties' contractual intent.","the side that brought the case's counsel asserted the federal common law rule is invalid."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 49-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-15"}]}],"caption":"Rodriguez v. FDIC","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.525717Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.533953Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on which legal framework governs the ownership of consolidated tax refunds.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-12-03T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/18-1269.html","primary_docket":"18-1269","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:39:46.057773Z","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 asks which body of law applies to determine ownership of consolidated tax refunds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 3, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 43-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants courts to apply state law to determine tax refund ownership.","the opposing side wants courts to apply federal common law to determine tax refund ownership."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues state law is the correct framework for this ownership question.","the opposing side argues the parties' contractual intent defines the equitable ownership of the refund."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the contract unambiguously establishes interim ownership.","Justice Breyer asked how one reads a contract under Colorado case law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 49-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome determines which legal rules govern tax refund ownership in similar disputes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"}]},{"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 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 49-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-15"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-1269-rodriguez-v-fdic","term":"2019","title":"Should state law or federal common law decide tax refund ownership?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1269_2d8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 15-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}