October Term 2012 · Docket 11-1285
Can an ERISA plan recover full medical costs from a third-party settlement?
US Airways seeks full reimbursement from a settlement. McCutchen argues equity limits the recovery.
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
Mr. Katyal argued ERISA allows plans to seek equitable relief to enforce terms.
Mr. Wessler argued subrogation claims are governed by equitable principles.
Mr. Palmore argued Section 502(a)(3) invokes the equitable powers of district courts.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether equitable principles limit a health plan's right to recover costs from a third-party settlement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
What each side wants
US Airways wants full reimbursement of medical costs from the settlement.
McCutchen wants the plan's recovery limited by equitable principles.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
What each side says
US Airways argues ERISA permits fiduciaries to seek equitable relief to enforce plan terms.
McCutchen argues reimbursement claims based on subrogation are subject to equitable principles.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the plan is not bound by equity if it seeks equitable relief.
Justice Scalia questioned whether the Court reviewed the specific plan language or general law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Why it matters
This case determines how much a health plan recovers from a third-party settlement. It affects the financial balance between injured workers and their insurers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
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 17-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
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 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-31
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.