October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1326
Does a False Claims Act violation require an objective legal baseline?
Relators seek damages for SuperValu's pricing claims. SuperValu argues the law lacked a clear standard.
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. Singh argued the Act creates three independent ways to prove knowledge.
He stated that choosing to break correctly interpreted law shows actual knowledge.
Mr. Phillips argued the case should be viewed as difficult.
Mr. Stewart addressed questions about internal company meetings discussing legal interpretations.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The False Claims Act penalizes false claims to the government. Relators argue SuperValu knowingly broke the law. SuperValu claims the legal standard was too vague to prove falsity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-15
What each side wants
Relators want the Court to reverse the lower court judgment.
SuperValu wants the Court to affirm the lower court judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
What each side says
Relators argue a defendant can knowingly break the law without prior guidance.
SuperValu argues falsity requires an objective baseline to deviate from.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if a baseline exists to objectively deviate from.
Justice Thomas asked if statements can be false without any guidance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-7
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for proving false claims. It determines when vague laws create liability. It affects all federal contractors and government payers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
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 55-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-7
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 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 41-23
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.