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U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc.

Consolidated with U.S. ex rel. Proctor v. Safeway, Inc. (22-111)
Docket No.21-1326
Op. Below7th Cir.
ArgumentApr 18, 2023

Holding

The False Claims Act's scienter element, which asks whether a defendant "knowingly" submitted a "false" claim to the government, refers to a defendant"s knowledge and subjective beliefs, not to what an objectively reasonable person may have known or believed.

Judgment

Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Clarence Thomas on Jun 1, 2023.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Feb 18, 2022
Application (21A439) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 3, 2022 to April 1, 2022, submitted to Justice Barrett.
Feb 24, 2022
Application (21A439) granted by Justice Barrett extending the time to file until April 1, 2022.
Apr 1, 2022
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 5, 2022)
Apr 11, 2022
Waiver of right of respondent SuperValu, Inc., et al. to respond filed.
Apr 13, 2022
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/29/2022.
Apr 19, 2022
Response Requested. (Due May 19, 2022)
May 9, 2022
Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 19, 2022 to June 20, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
May 10, 2022
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 21, 2022. See Rule 30.1.
May 19, 2022
Brief amicus curiae of Senator Charles E. Grassley filed.
May 19, 2022
Brief amicus curiae of Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund filed.
Jun 21, 2022
Brief of respondents SuperValu, Inc., et al. in opposition filed.
Jul 6, 2022
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/28/2022.
Jul 6, 2022
Reply of petitioners United States ex rel. Tracy Schutte, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Aug 22, 2022
The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
Dec 6, 2022
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
Dec 20, 2022
Supplemental brief of respondents SuperValu, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
Dec 21, 2022
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/6/2023.
Jan 9, 2023
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/13/2023.
Jan 13, 2023
Petition GRANTED. The petition for a writ of certiorari in No. 22-111 is GRANTED. The cases are consolidated, and a total of one hour is allotted for oral argument. VIDED.
Jan 13, 2023
Because the Court has consolidated these cases for briefing and oral argument, future filings and activity in the cases will now be reflected on the docket of No. 21-1326. Subsequent filings in these cases must therefore be submitted through the electronic filing system in No. 21-1326. Each document submitted in connection with one or more of these cases must include on its cover the case number and caption for each case in which the filing is intended to be submitted. Where a filing is submitted in fewer than all of the cases, the docket entry will reflect the case number(s) in which the filing is submitted; a document filed in all of the consolidated cases will be noted as “VIDED.”
Jan 31, 2023
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. VIDED.
Feb 1, 2023
Joint briefing proposal of the parties filed. VIDED.
Feb 1, 2023
Pursuant to the briefing proposal of the parties, the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits are to be filed on or before February 17, 2023; respondents' brief on the merits is to be filed on or before March 21, 2023; and the reply brief is to be filed pursuant to Rule 25.3. VIDED.
Feb 1, 2023
Application (22A702) of the parties to file consolidated briefs on the merits in excess of the word limits, submitted to Justice Barrett. VIDED.
Feb 8, 2023
Record requested from the U.S.C.A.-7th Circuit. VIDED.
Feb 8, 2023
Application (22A702) granted by Justice Barrett expanding the word limits to file consolidated briefs on the merits provided that petitioners' brief does not exceed 15,000 words, respondents' brief does not exceed 15,000 words, and the reply brief does not exceed 7,000 words. VIDED.
Feb 9, 2023
All records from the USCA-7th Circuit are available on PACER. Record request forwarded to the USDC-Central District of Illinois. VIDED.
Feb 10, 2023
Notice of Substitution of Counsel of Record filed. VIDED.
Feb 15, 2023
Letter requesting permission to file the joint appendix using the deferred method pursuant to Rule 26.4 filed. VIDED.
Feb 16, 2023
The Clerk has approved the filing of the joint appendix using the deferred method pursuant to Rule 26.4. VIDED.
Feb 16, 2023
Motion for leave to file a supplemental volume of the joint appendix under seal filed by respondents. VIDED.
Feb 17, 2023
Brief of petitioners United States ex rel. Tracy Schutte, et al. filed. VIDED.
Feb 22, 2023
Brief amici curiae of State of Connecticut, et al. filed. VIDED.
Feb 24, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. VIDED
Feb 24, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of National Whistleblower Center filed. VIDED
Feb 24, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of Senator Charles E. Grassley filed. VIDED.
Feb 24, 2023
Amicus brief of Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund not accepted for filing. (Corrected version to be submitted--March 03, 2023).
Feb 24, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund filed. (Mar. 7, 2023) VIDED.
Mar 2, 2023
Sealed records transmitted electronically from the U.S.D.C.-Central District of Illinois. The remaining record is available on PACER. VIDED.
Mar 3, 2023
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed. VIDED.
Mar 6, 2023
Motion of respondents for leave to file a supplemental volume of the joint appendix under seal GRANTED. VIDED.
Mar 20, 2023
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument is GRANTED in part, and the time is divided as follows: 20 minutes for petitioners, 10 minutes for the Solicitor General, and 30 minutes for respondents. VIDED.
Mar 21, 2023
Brief of respondents SuperValu, Inc., et al. and Safeway, Inc. filed. VIDED
Mar 24, 2023
CIRCULATED
Mar 27, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of Washington Legal Foundation filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of National Defense Industrial Association, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of CTIA - The Wireless Association, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Amicus brief of American Hospital Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans not accepted for filing. (March 30, 2023)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amici curiae of American Hospital Association, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amici curiae of Advanced Medical Technology Association, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and Members of The Medical Information Working Group filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Chain Drug Stores filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amici curiae of Professional Services Council and International Stability Operations Association filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2023
Brief amici curiae of Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois; et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Apr 4, 2023
Joint appendix filed (statement of cost filed). (Distributed)
Apr 4, 2023
Supplemental Joint appendix (under seal ) filed. (Distributed)
Apr 7, 2023
Reply of petitioners United States ex rel. Tracy Schutte, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Apr 18, 2023
Argued. For petitioners: Tejinder Singh, Washington, D. C.; and Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Carter G. Phillips, Washington, D. C. VIDED.
Jun 1, 2023
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. VIDED.
Jul 3, 2023
Judgment issued.

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