October Term 2015 · Docket 13-1067
Does a foreign state's commercial train operation create US jurisdiction?
A US citizen injured in Austria sues a foreign state. The dispute centers on whether US courts can hear the case.
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. Basombrio argued the accident occurred in Austria.
Mr. Basombrio cited the Nelson framework for the based-upon question.
Mr. Kneedler argued the FSIA contains its own statutory terms.
Mr. Kneedler stated Congress did not simply incorporate due process standards.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 48-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 48-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the limits of US jurisdiction over foreign states. The plaintiff seeks damages for a train accident. The defendant argues the US lacks authority to hear the claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-8
What each side wants
The plaintiff wants a US court to hear the injury claim.
The defendant wants the US court to dismiss the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
What each side says
The plaintiff argues the ticket sale creates sufficient US contact.
The defendant argues the FSIA requires specific statutory interpretation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the agency question matters if the ticket was not honored.
Justice Kagan asked if the jurisdiction test matches the foreign corporation standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 48-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 48-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-8
Why it matters
This case defines when US courts can judge foreign state commercial acts. It clarifies the boundary between sovereign immunity and commercial liability. The outcome shapes future cross-border injury claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
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 30-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 48-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 48-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-8
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 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 48-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 48-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-30
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.