October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1566
Can a party sue the government in district court for breach of a water contract?
the sides that brought the case seek district court jurisdiction for a contract claim. The government argues sovereign immunity bars this suit.
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. Smiland argued the 1986 judgment confirms the right to sue in district court.
Mr. Minear argued sovereign immunity bars the suit because the waiver is limited.
Justice Breyer questioned whether the statute allows suits in any court or only the Claims Court.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a specific statute waives sovereign immunity for contract claims in district court. the sides that brought the case argue the 1986 judgment confirms their right to sue there. The government contends the waiver is limited to the Court of Claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-10
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the district court to hear their breach of contract claim.
The government wants the case dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the 1986 judgment confirms their right to sue in district court.
The government argues the statute only waives immunity for the Court of Claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why the district court gave the sides that brought the case three chances to transfer the claim.
Justice Breyer asked how the sides that brought the case could sue in district court if the statute requires the Claims Court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
Why it matters
This dispute defines where citizens can sue the government for broken water contracts. It clarifies the scope of sovereign immunity waivers. The outcome shapes access to federal courts for contract disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
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 30-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
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 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-19
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.