October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1116
Does actual knowledge require reading the notice?
The dispute centers on whether a plaintiff must read a notice to start the three-year clock for filing a breach of fiduciary duty claim.
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
Verrilli argued the three-year limit starts when the plaintiff first had actual knowledge.
Guarnieri argued the plain language requires actual knowledge to start the clock.
Wessler argued Congress meant actual knowledge to mean real awareness by the plaintiff.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-56 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-56
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the meaning of actual knowledge in ERISA. the sides that brought the case argue the clock starts when a notice is sent. the opposing side argues the clock starts only when the plaintiff reads it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the three-year clock to start when the notice is sent.
the opposing side wants the three-year clock to start only when he reads the notice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute requires actual knowledge, which they define as receiving the notice.
the opposing side argues actual knowledge means real awareness, which requires reading the document.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how actual knowledge works if many people do not read mailings.
Justice Kavanaugh asked how a person can have actual knowledge without reading the notice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-56 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-56
Why it matters
This case defines when the statute of limitations begins. It determines whether unread notices trigger the filing deadline. It affects how long employees have to sue for retirement plan breaches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
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 12-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-56 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-56
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 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 50-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 50-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 48-30 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 48-30
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.