October Term 2002 · Docket 01-963
Can FELA plaintiffs recover for future cancer anxiety?
The dispute centers on whether emotional distress from fear of future cancer qualifies as a compensable injury under the Federal Employers' Liability Act.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Carter Phillips argued the asbestos litigation crisis remains acute.
He stated the crisis is more severe than at any prior time.
Mr. Salmons argued the opposing sides cannot recover for future cancer anxiety.
He claimed this anxiety is separate from their asbestosis disease.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 2-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 2-4
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Freeman Ayers and other workers sued Norfolk & Western Railway. They claimed asbestosis and fear of future cancer. The lower court allowed recovery for that anxiety. The railroad argues this expands liability beyond the statute's intent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 2-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 2-4
What each side wants
The railroad seeks to bar recovery for future cancer anxiety.
The workers seek to keep damages for that emotional distress.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
What each side says
The railroad argues the statute does not cover fear of future disease.
The workers argue their emotional injury stems from current asbestosis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the lower court requested an apportionment instruction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 2-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 2-4
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of emotional distress damages in workplace injury claims. It determines whether fear of future illness counts as a present injury. The outcome shapes compensation standards for industrial disease victims nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
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 3, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 2-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 2-4
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 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 26-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 26-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-2 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-2
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.