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Hillman v. Maretta

Docket No.11-1221
Op. BelowVa. S. Ct.
ArgumentApr 22, 2013
Vote9-0
AuthorSonia Sotomayor
OpinionJun 3, 2013
TermOctober Term 2012
SCOTUS PageOpinion

Holding

The Federal Employees" Group Life Insurance Act (FEGLIA), which establishes a life insurance program for federal employees, allows an employee to designate a beneficiary to receive the proceeds of the policy when the employee dies. That law preempts a Virginia law that allows the family of a deceased employee to sue the designated beneficiary for the proceeds if the beneficiary happens to be the employee"s former spouse.

Judgment

Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Sonia Sotomayor on Jun 3, 2013. Justice Scalia joins the opinion except as to footnote 4. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito filed opinions concurring in the judgment.

Holding: The Federal Employees” Group Life Insurance Act (FEGLIA), which establishes a life insurance program for federal employees, allows an employee to designate a beneficiary to receive the proceeds of the policy when the employee dies. That law preempts a Virginia law that allows the family of a deceased employee to sue the designated beneficiary for the proceeds if the beneficiary happens to be the employee”s former spouse.

Judgment:”Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Sotomayor on June 3, 2013. Justice Scalia joins the opinion except as to footnote 4. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito filed opinions concurring in the judgment.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Apr 11, 2012
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 14, 2012)
Apr 18, 2012
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including May 31, 2012.
May 18, 2012
Brief of respondent Judy A. Maretta in opposition filed.
May 29, 2012
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 14, 2012.
May 29, 2012
Reply of petitioner Jacqueline Hillman filed. (Distributed)
Jun 18, 2012
The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
Dec 14, 2012
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
Dec 14, 2012
Letter proposing a lodging of the government's group life insurance contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company received from the Solicitor General.
Dec 26, 2012
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 11, 2013.
Jan 11, 2013
Petition GRANTED.
Feb 11, 2013
SET FOR ARGUMENT ON MONDAY, April 22, 2013
Feb 22, 2013
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Feb 22, 2013
Brief of petitioner Jacqueline Hillman filed. (Distributed)
Mar 1, 2013
CIRCULATED.
Mar 7, 2013
Record received from Supreme Court of Virginia. (1 Box)
Mar 25, 2013
Brief of respondent Judy A. Maretta filed (Reprinted). (Distributed)Apr 1, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of Association of Federal Health Organizations filed. (Distributed)
Apr 1, 2013
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Apr 1, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)
Apr 12, 2013
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Apr 15, 2013
Reply of petitioner Jacqueline Hillman filed. (Distributed)Apr 22, 2013
Argued. For petitioner: Daniel H. Ruttenberg, Vienna, Va. For respondent: Steffen N. Johnson, Washington, D. C.; and Elaine J. Goldenberg, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Jun 3, 2013
Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan, JJ., joined, and in which Scalia, J., joined as to all but footnote 4. Thomas, J., and Alito, J., filed opinions concurring in the judgment.
Jul 5, 2013
MANDATE ISSUED.
Jul 5, 2013
Record returned to Supreme Court of Virginia.

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