October Term 2010 · Docket 10-114
Can a court exclude state-law fees from a federal fee award?
Fox seeks full attorney fees. Vice argues for excluding state-law costs.
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
Rosenkranz argued Fox had strong legal claims.
Stancil focused on fee eligibility first.
Rosenkranz emphasized the police chief's prison sentence.
Stancil cited Hensley for fee calculations.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Fox sued a police chief. He won federal and state claims. He asks for all legal fees. Vice says state fees must be excluded.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Fox wants a full fee award for all claims.
Vice wants to exclude state-law claim fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
What each side says
Fox argues federal law covers all related work.
Vice argues state claims require separate fee analysis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if city liability increases.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned the burden on courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
Why it matters
This case defines how courts calculate attorney fees. It affects costs for federal and state plaintiffs. It shapes legal access for all citizens.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
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 3, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
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 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
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.