October Term 2016 · Docket 15-1406
How much proof links bad conduct to legal fees?
The parties dispute the standard for proving that misconduct caused specific legal costs.
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. Bergeron argued for a direct causation standard.
Mr. Egbert argued for a causal link requirement.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-10
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Goodyear seeks a direct causation standard. Haeger wants a looser test. The Court must choose the rule.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
What each side wants
Goodyear wants a direct causation standard for fee awards.
Haeger wants a looser standard for fee awards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
What each side says
Goodyear argues direct causation limits inherent court authority.
Haeger argues the current standard is appropriate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why the plaintiff must prove every item.
Justice Kagan asked about the but-for test approach.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-10
Why it matters
The standard determines how courts award legal fees for misconduct. It affects the cost of litigation for all parties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
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 52-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-10
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 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 40-6 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 40-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
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.