October Term 2017 · Docket 16-1215
Does a written statement about a debtor's finances block debt discharge?
A law firm seeks to discharge a debt. The debtor argues the firm's written statement about finances blocks that discharge.
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
The law firm argued the statute uses financial condition as a term of art. It refers to overall financial status, not specific debts.
The debtor argued the statute covers statements about specific debts. It includes liabilities and credit transactions.
Justice Breyer questioned the distinction between the words something and respecting. He suggested the word statement might be the key.
Justice Gorsuch asked how the firm's argument helps its case. He noted Congress might care about incomplete information about debts.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-25 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of a bankruptcy statute. It asks if a written statement about a debtor's financial condition prevents debt discharge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
What each side wants
The law firm wants the court to allow the debt discharge. It argues the statute only covers statements about overall financial status.
The debtor wants the court to block the debt discharge. It argues the statute covers any written statement about finances.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
What each side says
The law firm argues the phrase financial condition is a term of art. It refers to overall financial status, not specific debts.
The debtor argues the phrase financial condition includes specific debts. It covers statements about liabilities and credit transactions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the word statement changes the legal analysis. He suggested the word something might be the key distinction.
Justice Gorsuch asked how the firm's argument helps its case. He noted Congress might care about incomplete information about debts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-25 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-7
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of bankruptcy fraud protections. It determines when written statements about finances block debt discharge. It affects how creditors and debtors handle written financial disclosures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
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 37-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-25 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-7
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 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-39
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.