No. 19-739October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Sep 4, 2026
Barbour v. Halliburton
Julius Barbour, et al., Petitioners v. Halliburton Company, et al.
The Court declined review, leaving the Fifth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits.
Case status
Decided · April 20, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- What it's about
The case concerned whether the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act allows federal courts to hear state-law claims seeking only economic losses from an oil spill on the Outer Continental Shelf when the claims do not otherwise fall within admiralty jurisdiction. The Court held that the Act provides federal jurisdiction over such claims, so Halliburton and the other respondents prevailed.
Question presented
Whether the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. § 1331 et seq., grants federal courts subject-matter jurisdiction over a state-law claim for purely economic loss resulting from an oil spill on the Outer Continental Shelf, where the claim is not otherwise cognizable in admiralty?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review, leaving the Fifth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits.
Impact
The case concerned whether people or businesses seeking purely financial losses after an offshore oil spill can bring state-law claims in federal court. That question can affect where oil-spill-related claims are heard.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review the Fifth Circuit's decision on April 20, 2020. It did not decide the legal question about federal court power over state-law economic-loss claims from an Outer Continental Shelf oil spill.
Impact
The case concerned whether people or businesses seeking purely financial losses after an offshore oil spill can bring state-law claims in federal court. That question can affect where oil-spill-related claims are heard.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action in this case. The Fifth Circuit's decision remains in effect.
What did the Supreme Court rule in Barbour v. Halliburton?
The Court declined to review the case. It did not decide the merits of the federal-jurisdiction question.
Who is affected by the Barbour v. Halliburton dispute?
People and businesses seeking economic-loss damages after an Outer Continental Shelf oil spill may be affected. The dispute concerned whether their state-law claims can go to federal court.
What happens next in Barbour v. Halliburton?
The Supreme Court's action is complete. The Fifth Circuit's decision remains in place.
Timing
Decided April 20, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 20, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 4, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Dec 6, 2019 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 4, 2026
- Method
- Methodology