October Term 2014 · Docket 12-1497
Does the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act pause civil fraud clocks?
A contractor argues the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act pauses civil fraud clocks. A relator argues it does not.
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. Stone argued the case falls under the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act.
Mr. Elwood argued the lower court erred in allowing the fifth complaint.
Mr. Stewart argued Congress enacted the law against a criminal statute backdrop.
Justice Scalia questioned the use of the word pending in the statute.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- 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 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a wartime law pauses civil fraud deadlines. The contractor claims the law applies to civil cases. The relator claims the law applies only to criminal cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 2015.
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 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
What each side wants
The contractor wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the relator's fraud complaint.
The relator wants the Supreme Court to allow the fraud complaint to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
What each side says
The contractor argues the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act pauses civil fraud deadlines.
The relator argues the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act applies only to criminal cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how collateral estoppel works in this area.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the government gets suspension under the contractor's view.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-13
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether civil fraud deadlines pause during wartime. This affects how long the government can sue contractors for fraud.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
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 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 3-5
- 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 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-13
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 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-43
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.