{"argument_date":"2019-10-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-10-07T00:00:00Z","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/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Stewart argued the statute allows fee recovery.","Mr. Chu argued the American Rule bars fee awards.","justice_gorsuch_questioned_the_petitioner_about_current_practices.","justice_ginsburg_questioned_the_petitioner_about_other_statutes."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 32-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 54-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 34-50"}]}],"caption":"Peter v. NantKwest, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.778211Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Unsuccessful patent applicants seek attorney fees. The government says the statute does not allow this.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-10-07T00:00:00Z","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/18-801.html","primary_docket":"18-801","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:48:37.016349Z","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 tests if a specific statute covers legal costs. the side that brought the case wants a fee award. The government opposes this request."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-20"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to award attorney fees.","The government wants the Court to deny the fee request."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the statute explicitly covers attorney fees.","The government argues the statute excludes attorney fees."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Gorsuch asked if the side that brought the case already performs this action.","Justice Ginsburg asked if other statutes use the word expenses for fees."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 32-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 54-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 34-50"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of patent fee awards. It affects the cost of patent litigation for applicants. It clarifies the meaning of statutory expense terms."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"}]},{"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 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 32-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 54-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 34-50"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-801-peter-v-nantkwest-inc","term":"2019","title":"Does the word expenses cover attorney fees in patent cases?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-801_1a7d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-16"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}