October Term 2007 · Docket 07-214
Does the False Claims Act cover fraud on subcontractors?
The dispute centers on whether federal fraud laws apply to false claims made to private subcontractors.
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
The company argued the law targets government fraud.
The government argued the law protects all fund recipients.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the False Claims Act. It asks if the law covers fraud on private entities receiving federal funds.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 26, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
The company wants the law limited to fraud on the government.
The government wants the law to cover fraud on subcontractors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
What each side says
The company argues the statute targets only government defrauding.
The government argues the statute covers all federal fund recipients.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked about the definition of a claim.
Justice Kennedy asked if a claim must be presented to the government.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-47
Why it matters
The outcome defines the reach of federal fraud enforcement. It determines liability for private contractors. It shapes compliance costs for defense suppliers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
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 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-47
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 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 21-31
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.