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Federal Aviation Administration v. Cooper

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
10-1024 9th Cir. Nov 30, 2011 Mar 28, 2012 5-3 Alito OT 2011

Holding: The authorization of suits against the government for “actual damages” in the Privacy Act of 1974 is not sufficiently clear to constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity from suits for mental and emotional distress.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 5-3, in an opinion by Justice Alito on March 28, 2012. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Ginsburg and Breyer. Justice Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs for the Petitioner

Merits Briefs for the Respondent

Amicus Briefs for the Respondent

Certiorari-stage documents