October Term 2020 · Docket 19-546
Does a federal court judgment bar later suits against individual employees?
the sides that brought the case argue a federal judgment ends all related claims. the opposing sides argue it only ends claims against the government.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Huston argued the judgment bar resolves the case completely.
Mr. Jaicomo argued the bar does not apply to single actions.
chief_justice_roberts_noted the statute speaks of actions, not claims.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 51-55 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 51-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-55 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Federal Tort Claims Act judgment bar. the sides that brought the case seek a final end to litigation. the opposing sides seek to pursue individual employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2020.
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 69, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-9
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the judgment bar to end all related claims against employees.
the opposing sides want to sue individual employees after the government judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute bars any action against involved employees.
the opposing sides argue the statute only bars claims against the government.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked about the line between non-cognizable and failed claims.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the statute bars claims or actions against employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 51-55 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 51-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-55 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-13
Why it matters
This dispute defines the finality of federal tort judgments. It determines whether individuals face endless litigation after government judgments. It shapes the balance between employee liability and judicial efficiency.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
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 11, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 51-55 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 51-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-55 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-55 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-55
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.