October Term 2011 · Docket 10-218
Who owns riverbeds when navigation history is unclear?
PPL Montana seeks to keep riverbed ownership. Montana claims state title to those beds.
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
PPL argues the case concerns riverbeds, not flood lands.
Montana argues the state owns navigable riverbeds.
PPL claims predecessors secured all necessary property rights.
Montana argues the lower court committed three basic errors.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-32
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on who holds title to riverbeds. PPL argues private ownership. Montana asserts state ownership based on navigability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
What each side wants
PPL wants to retain ownership of the riverbeds.
Montana wants the state to hold title to the riverbeds.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
What each side says
PPL argues private parties secured all necessary property rights.
Montana argues the state owns navigable riverbeds under the Constitution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why a specific factor is not considered.
Justice Alito asked which authorities define river segments versus the whole.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-32
Why it matters
This case defines state versus private ownership of riverbeds. It clarifies how courts assess historical navigation evidence. It impacts property rights along waterways nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
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 36-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-32
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 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 44-42 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 44-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-8
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.