October Term 2014 · Docket 14-103
Can bankruptcy professionals bill for defending their own fee applications?
Baker Botts seeks fees for defending its fee application. ASARCO argues such costs are not compensable.
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. Streett argued fee defense is part of reasonable compensation.
Mr. Oldham argued Section 330(a) compensates all professional services.
Mr. Fletcher agreed that successful fee defense may increase awards.
Justice Sotomayor questioned if accountants can pay legal fees.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether bankruptcy professionals may bill for defending their fee applications. The lower court denied these fees. Baker Botts asks the Supreme Court to reverse that denial. ASARCO asks the Court to affirm the denial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 25, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 47-49
What each side wants
Baker Botts wants the Court to allow billing for fee defense.
ASARCO wants the Court to deny billing for fee defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
What each side says
Baker Botts argues fee defense is part of reasonable compensation.
ASARCO argues fee defense is not a service to the estate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if accountants can pay legal fees.
Justice Ginsburg asked if defending enhancements is compensable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
Why it matters
This dispute affects how bankruptcy professionals bill for their work. It determines whether fee defense costs burden the estate. It shapes the financial rules for all bankruptcy cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
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 33-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
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 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-45
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.