October Term 2019 · Docket 18-801
Does the word expenses cover attorney fees in patent cases?
Unsuccessful patent applicants seek attorney fees. The government says the statute does not allow this.
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. Stewart argued the statute allows fee recovery.
Mr. Chu argued the American Rule bars fee awards.
justice_gorsuch_questioned_the_petitioner_about_current_practices.
justice_ginsburg_questioned_the_petitioner_about_other_statutes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-52 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a specific statute covers legal costs. the side that brought the case wants a fee award. The government opposes this request.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to award attorney fees.
The government wants the Court to deny the fee request.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute explicitly covers attorney fees.
The government argues the statute excludes attorney fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked if the side that brought the case already performs this action.
Justice Ginsburg asked if other statutes use the word expenses for fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-52 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-50
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of patent fee awards. It affects the cost of patent litigation for applicants. It clarifies the meaning of statutory expense terms.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
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 12-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-52 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-50
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 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-16
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.