Pausing lawsuit deadlines
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin v. United States
In brief
The Supreme Court left in place the ruling that the Tribe could not use equitable tolling to pause the deadline for presenting its claims.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 9-0 · January 25, 2016 · Opinion by Justice Alito
- What it’s about
- The Menominee Tribe sought to pause the deadline for submitting claims against the United States over its health-services contract, arguing that extraordinary circumstances kept it from filing on time.
- Who it affects
- The Tribe cannot use equitable tolling to pause the deadline for presenting these claims.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court unanimously agreed with the appeals court that equitable tolling (pausing a filing deadline) did not apply because the Tribe had not shown extraordinary circumstances outside its control.
The Tribe argued that extraordinary circumstances kept it from submitting its claims on time.
The claims arose from the Tribe's health-services contract with the United States.
Question presented
Did the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit properly hold that there were no extraordinary circumstances present in this case that would have prevented the statute of limitations from running?
What the Court decided
Holding
Equitable tolling does not apply to the presentment of petitioner’s claims. 764 F. 3d 51, affirmed.
- Result
- Affirmed
The vote
What's next
The appeals court's ruling remains in place; the Supreme Court did not send the case back for another decision.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Opinion added: Menominee Tribe
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.