October Term 2001 · Docket 01-682
Can private plaintiffs recover punitive damages under the Rehabilitation Act and ADA?
the sides that brought the case argue federal disability statutes bar punitive damages. the opposing sides claim these laws allow such awards against municipalities.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Robbins argued the Eighth Circuit allowed these damages.
Mr. Garre stated these statutes do not sanction punitive awards.
Mr. Nelson framed the issue as a statutory interpretation question.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether federal disability laws permit punitive damages. the sides that brought the case seek to bar these awards. the opposing sides want to keep them available.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to bar punitive damages under these statutes.
the opposing sides want the Court to allow punitive damages against municipalities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Congress did not authorize punitive damages in these laws.
the opposing sides argue the statutes permit awards beyond simple compensation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
What the justices asked
Does the Rehabilitation Act allow punitive damages?
Does Title II of the ADA allow punitive damages?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
Why it matters
This dispute defines the financial risk for local governments. It sets the standard for disability discrimination lawsuits. It determines the scope of federal liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.