October Term 2011 · Docket 11-88
Does the Torture Victim Protection Act cover corporate entities?
the sides that brought the case seek damages from a foreign government. the opposing sides argue the statute only covers natural persons.
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. Fisher argued Congress created a specific statutory cause of action.
Ms. Ferguson stated the term individual is unambiguous in U.S. law.
Mr. Gannon argued the ordinary meaning limits scope to natural persons.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 28-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-48
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Torture Victim Protection Act. the sides that brought the case want to sue a foreign authority. the opposing sides argue the law limits liability to individuals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to hold a foreign authority liable for damages.
the opposing sides want the Court to limit liability to natural persons.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute allows suits against foreign entities.
the opposing sides argue the word individual excludes corporate entities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if legal representatives can be corporate entities.
Justice Sotomayor noted the statute uses the word person elsewhere.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 28-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-48
Why it matters
This case defines who can face liability under federal law. It clarifies the scope of civil remedies for human rights abuses. It impacts how victims seek compensation from foreign actors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
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 12-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 28-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-48
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 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 8-44 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 8-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 14-32
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.