October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1375
Can a defendant win fees if the case ends without a merits ruling?
CRST Van Expedited seeks fees after a dismissal. The EEOC argues the dismissal lacked a merits finding.
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. Smith argued the parties agree on the core legal issue. He stated the question concerns prevailing defendants in Title VII cases.
Mr. Fletcher disputed the characterization of the 2013 dismissal. He emphasized the original 2009 dismissal as the relevant event.
Justice Sotomayor noted that judges must decide the final outcome. She questioned whether merits labels alone suffice for fee decisions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- 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 28-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the standard for awarding attorney fees in Title VII suits. The lower court denied fees. The parties dispute whether a merits ruling is required.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2016.
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 53, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 42-1
What each side wants
CRST Van Expedited wants the fee award restored. It argues the dismissal ended the case in its favor.
The EEOC wants the fee denial upheld. It argues no merits ruling occurred to justify fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
What each side says
CRST Van Expedited argues a dismissal with prejudice suffices for fees. It contends the case ended in the defendant's favor.
The EEOC argues fees require a merits determination. It asserts the dismissal did not resolve the underlying claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if a substitute test exists for fee eligibility.
Justice Kennedy asked if district courts frequently use the term bars in this context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of fee awards in employment discrimination cases. It clarifies when a dismissal qualifies as a prevailing outcome. The standard affects litigation costs for employers and agencies nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
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 24-32 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 28-36
- 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 28-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
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 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 50-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 50-50
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.