October Term 2015 · Docket 15-109
Does a dismissal under Section 2680 trigger the FTCA judgment bar?
the sides that brought the case argue a Section 2680 dismissal bars new suits. the opposing sides argue it does not.
Verified source milestones
- — 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 a Section 2680 dismissal triggers the judgment bar.
He stated the bar applies to any FTCA judgment.
Justice Alito questioned the definition of a technical judgment.
Mr. Ramirez argued the Postal Reorganization Act applies the FTCA.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-24
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns the Federal Tort Claims Act. It asks if a specific dismissal ends the right to sue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the dismissal to bar new lawsuits.
the opposing sides want the dismissal to allow new lawsuits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue a Section 2680 dismissal is a judgment.
the opposing sides argue a Section 2680 dismissal is not a judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked about the meaning of the statutory phrase.
Justice Alito asked what a technical judgment means.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-24
Why it matters
This case defines when a dismissal ends a plaintiff's right to sue. It clarifies the scope of the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
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 52-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-10
- 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 42-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-24
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 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 4-48 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 4-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-38
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.