October Term 2016 · Docket 15-457
Can a plaintiff appeal a dismissal with prejudice?
Microsoft and Baker dispute whether a final judgment exists when a court dismisses a case with prejudice.
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. Fisher argued for the side that brought the case's position on finality.
Mr. Stris argued that plaintiffs can bet their case on reversal.
chief_justice_roberts_noted the parties discussed original claims and standing.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- 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 18-30 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-46
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a dismissal with prejudice creates a final judgment. This status allows a party to appeal to a higher court. The lower court dismissed the underlying claims. The parties disagree on the legal effect of that dismissal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2017.
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 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
What each side wants
Microsoft wants the Court to affirm the lower court's dismissal.
Baker wants the Court to reverse the lower court's dismissal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
What each side says
Microsoft argues the dismissal with prejudice creates a final judgment.
Baker argues the dismissal does not create a final judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how to articulate a non-absolute standard.
Justice Kagan asked if the argument would be final under Rule 1291.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-46
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of appellate jurisdiction. It determines when parties can challenge lower court dismissals. The outcome shapes federal civil procedure standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
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 16-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-6
- 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 18-30 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-46
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 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-34 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 24-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-10
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.