No. 25-6738October Term 2025Petition Pending
Clyde Pontefract, Petitioner v. United States, et al.
Clyde Pontefract, a federal inmate, asks the Court to review whether federal regulations give him a right to seek compensation from the United States for lost personal property.
Case status
- Current stage
- Petition Pending
- Latest event
- Petition pending
- Decision timing
- No decision timeline until the Court agrees to hear the case.
- What it's about
Clyde Pontefract, a federal inmate, asks the Court to review whether federal regulations give him a right to seek compensation from the United States for lost personal property. The petition arises from the Sixth Circuit and concerns whether those regulations can support a claim under the Little Tucker Act.
Question presented
1. Does the Substantive Lav; of 28 CFR §14.1 et seq. and 28 CFR §543.30 et seq. qualify for the Little Tucker Act under United States V. Mitchell, 463 US 206.(1983) for compensation by the Federal Government for the loss of personal property of a federal inmate ? 2. Does the Substantive Lav; of 28 CFR §553.10 et seq. and Program Statement of 5580.08 establish fiduciary responsibilities under the test of "Fair Interpretation" rule under United States V. White Mt. Apache Tribe, 537 US 465 (2003) that would establish that 31 USC §1321(a)(21) & (22) is not a bare trust? 3. Does Ali V. Fed Bureau of Prisons, 552 US 214 (2008) and 28 USC §2680(c) actually deny a federal prisoner to file a claim ba^ed on his personal property under the Federal Tort Claims Act ?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit / Petition pending
- Area
Petition for review pending
Briefing
What it's about
Federal inmate Clyde Pontefract asks the Supreme Court to consider whether federal regulations allow him to seek government compensation for lost personal property. His petition also questions whether a federal law blocks such claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Argument
The petition for certiorari (the Court's decision whether to hear a case) has been filed, and oral argument is not yet scheduled.
Impact
The case could affect federal inmates whose belongings are lost while in Bureau of Prisons custody. For example, it could shape whether an inmate can seek payment from the federal government for missing personal property.
What is at stake in Pontefract v. United States?
The case asks whether federal regulations support compensation claims when a federal inmate's personal property is lost. It also raises a possible bar under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Who could be affected by Pontefract's case?
Federal inmates who say personal belongings were lost in Bureau of Prisons custody could be affected. The case concerns their ability to seek payment from the government.
What happens next in Pontefract v. United States?
The Supreme Court will consider whether to grant certiorari (agree to hear the case). Oral argument has not been scheduled.
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 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology