October Term 2025 · Docket 24-924
Can State Tort Law Claims Against a Military Contractor Go Forward at a Foreign War Zone?
Specialist Wesley Hencely sued Fluor Corporation under South Carolina tort law after an enemy attack on U.S. forces at Bagram Airfield. Fluor says uniquely federal interests preempt those state claims. The Supreme Court must decide whether Hencely's suit can proceed.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Hencely's lawyer argued that tort law remains unless Congress acts and cited a Supreme Court case upholding common law claims for conduct in Mexico.
Fluor's lawyer argued that state law claims are preempted because they conflict with uniquely federal interests arising from an enemy attack on a foreign battlefield in time of war.
Justices questioned the baseline rule, the role of state control over the military, and whether the Boyle precedent controls.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 50-56 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 50-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 56-12 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 56-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 50-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-56 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-26
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves a 2014 suicide bombing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan that killed and injured U. S. service members. Hencely sued Fluor, a contractor the Army employed there, alleging it failed to follow security requirements. The Fourth Circuit dismissed his claims, and he appealed to the Supreme Court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
How the case got here
The Army found that Fluor's disregard of key contractual requirements contributed to the bombing, according to Hencely's lawyer. Hencely sought damages under South Carolina tort law. The Fourth Circuit blocked his suit on a rationale Fluor does not defend. The case reached the Supreme Court on appeal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 8-22
What each side wants
Hencely argues tort law remains the baseline unless Congress acts, and that courts have long allowed common law claims for conduct abroad. He says Fluor's alternative theories do not justify preemption.
Fluor argues the claims are preempted because they conflict with uniquely federal interests. Its lawyer says the case arises from an enemy attack on U. S. forces on a foreign battlefield in time of war, and state law cannot govern military operations there.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
What each side says
Justice Kavanaugh questioned what the baseline is when a suit involves a uniquely federal interest, suggesting Congress must act to allow such suits. Justice Sotomayor questioned whether 50 states can tell the military what to do, saying states cannot control military orders. Justice Thomas asked why the Supreme Court's decision in Boyle does not control the case.
The justices' questions do not indicate votes or a decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
What the justices asked
What is the baseline rule for state tort claims against military contractors operating abroad?
Does the Supreme Court's Boyle decision control this dispute?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 50-56 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 50-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 56-12 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 56-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 50-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-56 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-26
Why it matters
The ruling will shape whether service members can sue military contractors under state law for harm suffered at foreign war zones.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
What the Court decided
State-law negligence claims against a military contractor are not preempted when the government did not order or authorize the challenged conduct. Wartime combat settings alone do not bar such suits.
The Fourth Circuit's judgment was vacated and the case remanded for further proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 2, lines 1-1 — Opinion, file page 2, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 4, lines 1-1 — Opinion, file page 4, lines 1-1
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 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 40-36 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 40-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 54-50 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 54-50
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Removed an unsupported statement that the Court had not ruled; the available source set did not establish that absence.
- Revision 3 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Corrected unsupported no-ruling language and clarified that the article's disposition summary is incomplete.
- Revision 4 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Added the holding and disposition from the verified official Court opinion.
- Revision 5 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.