October Term 2016 · Docket 15-513
Does a seal violation force case dismissal?
State Farm seeks dismissal after seal breaches. The government argues the case should proceed.
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
Justice Alito noted two arguments: mandatory dismissal or wrong standard.
Justice Kennedy asked why defendants have a stronger interest in seals.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the government can waive the seal condition.
Justice Kennedy asked if the advocate sought sanctions other than dismissal.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 16-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 16-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-52
- 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 18-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 28-12
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether a seal violation mandates dismissal. State Farm argues the breach is fatal. The government claims the case should continue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 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
State Farm wants the case dismissed due to seal breaches.
The government wants the case to proceed despite seal breaches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
What each side says
State Farm argues the seal violation requires mandatory dismissal.
The government argues the lower courts applied the wrong standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the seal purpose was to prevent tipping off the defendant.
Justice Ginsburg asked if plaintiffs can re-file after dismissal in similar cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 16-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 16-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 28-12
Why it matters
This case defines the remedy for seal violations. It determines if dismissal is the only option. It affects how courts handle procedural breaches in litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
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 38-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 16-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 16-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-52
- 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 18-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 28-12
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 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 44-52 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 44-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 6-12
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.