October Term 2005 · Docket 04-759
Does the Federal Tort Claims Act apply private or state liability standards?
The dispute centers on which legal standards govern federal employee tort claims.
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
Ms. Maynard argued the Act waives immunity for federal employee torts.
She stated the Act applies private person liability principles.
She criticized the Ninth Circuit for using state entity standards.
Justice Kennedy questioned the liability of the United States for private inspectors.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal sovereign immunity waivers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2005.
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 United States seeks application of private person liability standards.
Olson seeks application of state governmental entity liability standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
What each side says
The United States argues the Act requires private person liability principles.
Olson argues the Act requires state entity liability principles.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked about hypothetical Arizona statutes for private inspectors.
Justice Souter asked about the relevance of a specific statutory section.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
Why it matters
The outcome defines the legal standard for federal tort liability claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
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 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
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 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-7
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.