October Term 2013 · Docket 12-729
Does an ERISA plan limit the time to sue after a benefits denial?
The dispute centers on whether a plan can start a lawsuit deadline before a claimant receives a final benefits decision.
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
the side that brought the case argues the clause starts the clock too early. They say this happens before the claim exists.
the opposing side argues the clause is a valid contract term. They say ERISA allows employers broad leeway to set terms.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the finality of the administrative process. She noted the uncertainty of when the process ends.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the time remaining in a similar case. She explored the practical impact of the proposed rule.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-3
- 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 29-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the validity of a specific contract clause. The clause starts a one-year lawsuit clock early in the internal review process. the side that brought the case argues this violates federal law. the opposing side argues the clause is a valid contract term.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 15, 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 17-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to strike the one-year limit. They argue this limit violates federal law principles.
the opposing side wants the Court to enforce the one-year limit. They argue the plan terms control the lawsuit deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the clause starts the clock before a claim exists. They say this undermines the federal remedial framework.
the opposing side argues ERISA allows broad leeway to choose plan terms. They say a suit can only enforce those agreed-upon terms.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the lower court found the date irrelevant to the outcome.
Justice Ginsburg asked if a one-year rule from the final decision would make the claim too late.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-31
Why it matters
This case defines the deadline for filing federal benefits lawsuits. It determines how long claimants have to sue after a denial. It clarifies the balance between contract terms and federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
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 51-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-3
- 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 29-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-31
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 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-9
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.