October Term 2013 · Docket 12-315
Does airline immunity require materially false statements?
Airlines seek to limit defamation liability for security reports. Passengers argue truth alone should not shield false claims.
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
Cohn stated truth matters for immunity.
Feigin emphasized the scope of protection.
Kennedy questioned the clarity of the issue.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- 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 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of airline immunity under the Air Transportation Security Act. The dispute centers on whether a statement must be materially false to lose protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-1
What each side wants
Air Wisconsin wants immunity for true statements.
Hoeper wants liability for false statements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
What each side says
Cohn argues truth should preserve immunity.
Feigin argues materiality defines the scope.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
What the justices asked
Kennedy asked about real-time reporting needs.
Scalia asked what material falsity sustains.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-27
Why it matters
This defines the boundary of airline legal protection. It balances security reporting against passenger reputation rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-27
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 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 3-35 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 3-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-35
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.