No. 25-1367October Term 2025Before Arguments
Roofing Designs by JR, L.L.C., dba Roofing Designs, Petitioner v. Royal American Construction, Incorporated, et al.
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Question presented
Whether the doctrine of judicial estoppel can be invoked to bar a plaintiff who fails to fully or accurately disclose a civil claim in bankruptcy filings from pursuing that claim simply because there is a “potential motive” for nondisclosure, regardless of whether there is evidence that the plaintiff in fact acted in bad faith.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
Roofing Designs by JR is asking the Supreme Court to review a Fifth Circuit rule that can block a plaintiff from pursuing a civil claim after the claim was not fully or accurately disclosed in bankruptcy filings. The question is whether a court may do that based only on a possible motive for nondisclosure, even without evidence of bad faith.
Argument
The case is still at the petition stage, and oral argument has not been scheduled. No substantive justice or advocate reactions are available yet.
Impact
The case matters to people and businesses that filed for bankruptcy and later want to pursue a lawsuit. For example, a plaintiff that left a claim off bankruptcy papers could lose the chance to keep pursuing that case, even if there is no evidence of bad faith.
What is the fight in Roofing Designs v. Royal American Construction?
The petition asks whether a plaintiff can be barred from suing after not fully listing the claim in bankruptcy papers. The key issue is whether possible motive alone is enough, without proof of bad faith.
Who could be affected if the Court takes Roofing Designs by JR?
People and businesses that filed bankruptcy and later want to sue could be affected. An omitted claim on bankruptcy forms could keep them from pursuing that case in court.
What happens next in Roofing Designs by JR?
The justices must decide whether to grant certiorari (agree to hear the case). Oral argument has not been scheduled, and no decision window is available yet.
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
- Jul 23, 2026
- Method
- Methodology