October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1298
Does the government waive sovereign immunity by suing contractors for breach?
Contractors argue the government waived immunity by suing them. The government claims it did not.
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
General Dynamics and Boeing argue that suing contractors waives immunity.
The government argues that suing contractors does not waive immunity.
Justice Sotomayor asked why the contract did not require sharing technology.
Justice Ginsburg asked why contractors did not mention cost issues earlier.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-42
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
General Dynamics and Boeing want the Court to rule that the government waived immunity. The government wants the Court to rule that it did not waive immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-30
What each side wants
General Dynamics and Boeing want the Court to rule that the government waived immunity.
The government wants the Court to rule that it did not waive immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
What each side says
General Dynamics and Boeing argue that suing contractors waives immunity.
The government argues that suing contractors does not waive immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the contract did not require sharing technology.
Justice Ginsburg asked why contractors did not mention cost issues earlier.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-42
Why it matters
This case defines when the government waives immunity in contract disputes. It affects future government contracting litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
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 22-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-42
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 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-34
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.