General Dynamics v. United States

The government sued defense contractors for breach of contract, but the contractors said they could not defend themselves without classified information. The Court said the case must be dismissed when the state-secrets doctrine prevents a contractor from raising a valid defense.

Justice Scalia wrote the 9–0 opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan.

Majority

Roberts

Scalia

Kennedy

Thomas

Ginsburg

Breyer

Alito

Sotomayor

Kagan

The decision limits lawsuits when classified information is essential to deciding the dispute. For example, a defense contractor cannot be forced to defend a contract claim if doing so would expose protected secrets.

The Court has finished this docket action. The case must be dismissed, leaving the government and contractors where they were.

The Court said the case must be dismissed because classified information prevented the contractors from presenting a valid defense.

The decision affects the government and contractors in disputes involving classified work. It can prevent either side from litigating when secrets are central to the case.

The Court has completed its action. The contract dispute is dismissed, leaving the parties in their prior positions.