October Term 2006 · Docket 06-84
Does willful violation require actual knowledge or include reckless disregard?
Safeco argues willfulness requires actual knowledge. Burr argues it includes reckless disregard of legal duties.
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. Mahoney argued the Ninth Circuit's interpretation of willfulness was flawed. She requested a remand to explore communications with counsel.
Mr. Shorr argued Congress intended to require knowing violations when it used specific language. He claimed the statute here lacks that explicit requirement.
Ms. Millett argued the Court of Appeals correctly included a reckless disregard component. She asserted this fits the civil context of the law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the definition of willful violation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Safeco seeks a narrow standard. Burr seeks a broader standard covering reckless conduct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 16, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-19
What each side wants
Safeco wants the Court to limit willfulness to actual knowledge of a legal violation.
Burr wants the Court to confirm willfulness includes reckless disregard of legal duties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
What each side says
Safeco argues Congress expressly required knowing violations elsewhere in the statute. It claims the absence of that language here implies a lower standard.
Burr argues the civil context of the statute supports a recklessness component. It claims the lower court correctly applied this broader definition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked about reckless disregard.
Justice Breyer questioned the clarity of the term reckless in legal contexts. He asked about the difference between standards. He noted the Model Penal Code attempted clarification based on Court opinions. He asked if parties could not have been conscious of risk given their legal consultations. He asked if actual knowledge is required.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
Why it matters
The definition of willfulness determines liability for insurance companies. It affects how firms manage legal risk. It shapes the standard for civil penalties under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
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 19-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
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 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-49
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.