October Term 2013 · Docket 12-992
Does a pending fee request block appeal of a final merits judgment?
The parties dispute whether unresolved fee claims prevent a merits judgment from becoming final for appeal.
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. Himmelfarb cited Budinich v. Becton Dickinson for immediate appeal rights.
Mr. Feldman argued all damages claims must resolve before finality.
Justice Kagan questioned if listing fees in complaints changes the outcome.
Justice Breyer asked if general fee mentions in contracts affect finality.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the finality of a judgment when fee requests remain pending.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
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 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
What each side wants
Ray Haluch Gravel Co. wants immediate appeal of the merits judgment.
Central Pension Fund wants to delay appeal until fees resolve.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
What each side says
Ray Haluch Gravel Co. argues fee requests do not block finality.
Central Pension Fund argues all damages claims must resolve first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if motion-based fees create separate judgments.
Justice Sotomayor asked why merits are final when auditor fees are not.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-41
Why it matters
This dispute defines when parties can appeal final merits decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
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 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-41
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 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 9-21
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.