October Term 2009 · Docket 09-448
Can a court award fees before a final benefits decision?
The dispute centers on whether a court can award attorney fees before the final benefits decision.
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. Ates argued the insurer violated ERISA in bad faith.
Mr. Rosenkranz argued no judge decided the merits.
chief_justice_roberts_asked_if_courts_should_wait_for_final_outcomes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-5
- 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 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves a dispute over attorney fees in an ERISA benefits case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2010.
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 side that brought the case wants fees for securing benefits.
the opposing side wants no fees without final success.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the insurer acted in bad faith.
the opposing side argues no judge decided the merits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if fees vanish if disability is not proved.
Justice Kennedy asked if fees apply if the claim is frivolous.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-47
Why it matters
This case defines when courts can award fees in benefits disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
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 11-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-5
- 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 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-47
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 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
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.