October Term 2010 · Docket 10-235
Does FELA require a proximate cause instruction?
CSX argues FELA requires a proximate cause instruction. McBride argues the statute only requires negligence.
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
CSX argued prior decisions established a proximate cause requirement.
McBride argued the statute text supports a negligence-only standard.
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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- 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 13-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns the jury instruction standard for railroad negligence claims under FELA.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2011.
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
CSX wants the Court to mandate a proximate cause instruction.
McBride wants the Court to uphold the negligence-only instruction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
What each side says
CSX argues FELA contains an implicit proximate cause requirement.
McBride argues the statute text only requires negligence causation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how to explain the difference between negligence and proximate cause to a jury.
Justice Sotomayor asked if juries understand the concept of proximate cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- 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 13-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
Why it matters
The outcome defines the legal standard for proving railroad negligence. It determines the burden of proof for injured workers. It shapes jury instructions in federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- 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 13-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
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 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
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.