October Term 2005 · Docket 05-260
Can ERISA plans use equitable relief to recover specific settlement funds?
The dispute centers on whether a health plan can force beneficiaries to return specific settlement money.
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. Stris argued that the plan seeks monetary reimbursement from beneficiaries.
Mr. Coleman asserted that subrogation claims fit within equitable limits.
Mr. Feldman stated that the case seeks a specifically identifiable fund.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of equitable relief under ERISA section 502(a)(3).
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to bar the plan from seeking specific funds.
the opposing sides want the Court to allow the plan to recover the settlement money.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue that contractual reimbursement claims are not equitable relief.
the opposing sides argue that subrogation claims are inherently equitable and enforceable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked how the case differs from Barnes v. Alexander.
Justice Souter asked why an injunction is needed if funds are identifiable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-41
Why it matters
This case defines the financial remedies available to employee health plans.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
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 49-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-41
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 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 25-54
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.