October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1601
Does a buyer who never touches hazardous waste pay cleanup costs?
Burlington Northern argues it owes no cleanup costs because it never handled the waste. The government argues the buyer pays for all disposal.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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. Sullivan argued the lower court ignored statutory language.
Ms. Sullivan claimed the buyer had an attenuated connection to harm.
Mr. Stewart argued for arranger liability under the statute.
Ms. Mahoney cited the Restatement to support apportionment standards.
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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on who pays for hazardous waste cleanup. One side claims the buyer is liable. The other side claims only the handler is liable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-29
What each side wants
Burlington Northern wants the Court to limit liability to those who handle waste.
The United States wants the Court to hold buyers liable for all cleanup costs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
What each side says
Burlington Northern argues the statute requires a direct connection to the harm.
The United States argues the buyer controls the waste disposal process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if ownership transfer changes liability.
Justice Kennedy asked if a driver dumping waste creates liability.
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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
Why it matters
This case defines who pays for hazardous waste cleanup. It determines financial responsibility for industrial pollution. It affects how companies manage waste disposal contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
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 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
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 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 31-19
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.