October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1074
Does the Federal Tort Claims Act time limit allow equitable tolling?
The government argues the statute bars late claims. The plaintiff argues fairness allows an extension.
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. Martinez argued the text and history show Congress wanted a strict bar.
Mr. Schnapper noted two different background rules are at issue here.
justice_questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-12
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a strict time limit in the Federal Tort Claims Act allows courts to extend deadlines for good cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
What each side wants
The government wants the time limit to be absolute.
The plaintiff wants the court to allow a late filing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
What each side says
The government argues the text makes the deadline jurisdictional.
The plaintiff argues fairness principles should apply to the deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why a 1972 statute differs from later laws.
Justice Kagan asked if the argument applies to other time limits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-12
Why it matters
This dispute defines when courts can extend strict filing deadlines for tort claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
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 18-20 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-12
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 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-10
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.