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Guam v. United States
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-382 | D.C. Cir. | Apr 26, 2021 | May 24, 2021 | 9-0 | Thomas | OT 2020 |
Holding: A settlement of environmental liabilities must resolve a specific liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to give rise to a contribution action under that act.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on May 24, 2021.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Refreshing unanimity in court’s interpretation of Superfund law (Robert Percival, May 25, 2021)
- Unanimous court revives Guam’s Superfund claim against U.S. Navy (Robert Percival, May 24, 2021)
- Court wrestles with Superfund contribution puzzle (Robert Percival, April 28, 2021)
- Is it too late for Guam to sue the Navy to pay for the cleanup of its dumpsite? (Robert Percival, April 23, 2021)
- Justices grant review in 14 new cases but don’t act on hot-button issues (Amy Howe, January 8, 2021)
- Petitions of the week: Deadlines for attorneys’ fees, the elements of burglary and more (Andrew Hamm, October 23, 2020)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Sep 16 2020 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 26, 2020) |
| Oct 21 2020 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 26, 2020 to November 25, 2020, submitted to The Clerk. |
| Oct 23 2020 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 25, 2020. |
| Nov 20 2020 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 25, 2020 to December 9, 2020, submitted to The Clerk. |
| Nov 23 2020 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including December 9, 2020. |
| Dec 07 2020 | Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. |
| Dec 23 2020 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/8/2021. |
| Dec 23 2020 | Reply of petitioner Government of Guam filed. (Distributed) |
| Jan 08 2021 | Petition GRANTED. |
| Feb 22 2021 | Brief of petitioner Government of Guam filed. |
| Feb 22 2021 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed) |
| Mar 01 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of ConservAmerica filed. |
| Mar 01 2021 | Brief amici curiae of Territories of The Commonwealth Of The Northern Mariana Islands, et al. filed. |
| Mar 12 2021 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, April 26, 2021. |
| Mar 15 2021 | Record requested. |
| Mar 16 2021 | The record received from the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts is electronic and located on Pacer. |
| Mar 16 2021 | The record from the U.S.C.A. is electronic and located on Pacer. The oral argument transcript, has been electronically received and filed. |
| Mar 24 2021 | Brief of respondent United States filed. |
| Mar 30 2021 | CIRCULATED |
| Mar 31 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Atlantic Richfield Company filed. (Distributed) |
| Apr 16 2021 | Reply of petitioner Government of Guam filed. (Distributed) |
| Apr 26 2021 | Argued. For petitioner: Gregory G. Garre, Bethesda, Md. For respondent: Vivek Suri, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| May 24 2021 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. |
| Jun 25 2021 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
