No. 16-1067October Term 2017Decided Feb 21, 2018
Murphy v. Smith
This case asked how much of a prisoner’s damages award must be used to pay attorney’s fees in a civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(d)(2).
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Feb 21, 2018
- What it's about
This case asked how much of a prisoner’s damages award must be used to pay attorney’s fees in a civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(d)(2). The Supreme Court held that courts must apply as much of the judgment as needed, up to 25 percent, rather than choosing any lower amount at their discretion.
Question presented
Whether the parenthetical phrase "not to exceed 25 percent" means any amount up to 25 percent (as four circuits hold), or whether it means exactly 25 percent (as the Seventh Circuit holds)?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / Decision released Feb 21, 2018
- Area
Civil Rights
Timing
Decided February 21, 2018
The Court released its decision on February 21, 2018 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jun 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology