[MR. BOUTROUS]30LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Mr31NPMr .32SENT. Chief33NPChief Justice34NPJustice ,35,, and36CCand may37MDmay it38PPit please39VVplease the40DTthe Court41NPCourt :42:: The43DTthe Eleventh44JJeleventh Circuit45NNcircuit held46VVDhold that47IN/thatthat a48DTa relator49NNrelator who50WPwho waited51VVDwait seven52CDseven years53NNSyear to54TOto file55VVfile suit56NNsuit after57INafter witnessing58VVGwitness an59DTan alleged60JJalleged fraud61NNfraud against62INagainst the63DTthe United64NPUnited States65NPSStates Government66NPGovernment was67VBDbe entitled68VVNentitle to69TOto rely70VVrely on71INon the72DTthe equitable73JJequitable tolling74VVGtoll principle75NNprinciple ,76,, the77DTthe discovery78NNdiscovery rule79NNrule ,80,, that81WDTthat is82VBZbe established83VVNestablish by84INby Section85NPSection 373186CD@card@ (87(( b88LSb )89)) (90(( 291LS2 )92)) of93INof the94DTthe False95JJfalse Claims96NPClaims Act97NPAct ,98,, even99RBeven though100INthough the101DTthe government102NNgovernment declined103VVDdecline to104TOto intervene105VVintervene in106INin the107DTthe suit108NNsuit .109SENT. Under110INunder this111DTthis approach112NNapproach ,113,, a114DTa relator115NNrelator could116MDcould conceal117VVconceal from118INfrom the119DTthe United120NPUnited States121NPSStates and122CCand could123MDcould wait124VVwait to125TOto sue126VVsue for127INfor a128DTa decade129NNdecade and130CCand still131RBstill take132VVtake advantage133NNadvantage of134INof the135DTthe principle136NNprinciple of137INof equitable138JJequitable tolling139VVGtoll .140SENT. This141DTthis reading142NNreading of143INof Section144NPSection 3731145CD@card@ (146(( b147LSb )148)) (149(( 2150LS2 )151)) contradicts152VVZcontradict this153DTthis Court154NPCourt 's155POS's interpretive156JJinterpretive approach157NNapproach in158INin the159DTthe Graham160NPGraham case161NNcase ,162,, it163PPit defies164VVZdefy default165VVdefault tolling166VVGtoll rules167NNSrule ,168,, and169CCand it170PPit would171MDwould produce172VVproduce counterintuitive173JJcounterintuitive results174NNSresult that175IN/thatthat Congress176NPCongress cannot177MDcan possibly178RBpossibly have179VHhave intended180VVNintend .181SENT. Let182VVlet me183PPme begin184VVbegin with185INwith the186DTthe text187NNtext .188SENT. In189INin this190DTthis Court191NPCourt 's192POS's decision193NNdecision in194INin Graham195NPGraham ,196,, interpreting197VVGinterpret the198DTthe False199JJfalse Claims200NPClaims Act201NPAct ,202,, it203PPit held204VVDhold that205IN/thatthat these206DTthese provisions207NNSprovision must208MDmust be209VBbe interpreted210VVNinterpret in211INin context212NNcontext ,213,, not214RBnot in215INin isolation216NNisolation .217SENT. And218CCand ,219,, in220INin particular221JJparticular ,222,, it223PPit ...224:... it225PPit focused226VVDfocus on227INon the228DTthe language229NNlanguage under230INunder ...231:... under232INunder Section233NPSection 3730234CD@card@ ,235,, which236WDTwhich is237VBZbe contained238VVNcontain in239INin Section240NPSection 3731241CD@card@ (242(( b243LSb )244)) (245(( 2246LS2 )247)) .248SENT. And249CCand ,250,, here251RBhere ,252,, the253DTthe statutory254JJstatutory context255NNcontext confirms256VVZconfirm that257IN/thatthat that258DTthat language259NNlanguage ,260,, "261''" action262NNaction under263INunder Section264NPSection 3730265CD@card@ ,266,, "267``" as268RBas incorporated269VVNincorporate into270INinto subsection271NNsubsection (272(( b273LSb )274)) (275(( 2276LS2 )277)) ,278,, is279VBZbe limited280VVNlimit to281TOto those282DTthose actions283NNSaction where284WRBwhere the285DTthe United286NPUnited States287NPSStates is288VBZbe a289DTa party290NNparty ,291,, either292CCeither because293INbecause it294PPit 's295VBZbe intervened296VVNintervene or297CCor it298PPit filed299VVDfile a300DTa complaint301NNcomplaint .302SENT. And303CCand Graham304NPGraham said305VVDsay ...306:... [JUSTICE GINSBURG]307LOC[JUSTICE GINSBURG] Is308VBZbe n't309RBn't the310DTthe United311NPUnited States312NPSStates in313INin some314DTsome sense315NNsense a316DTa party317NNparty even318RBeven if319INif it320PPit has321VHZhave n't322RBn't intervened323VVNintervene ?324SENT? After325INafter all326DTall ,327,, it328PPit 's329VBZbe going330VVGgo to331TOto get332VVget the333DTthe lion334NNlion 's335POS's share336NNshare of337INof the338DTthe recovery339NNrecovery ,340,, and341CCand ,342,, if343INif I344PPI understand345VVPunderstand correctly346RBcorrectly ,347,, it348PPit ...349:... the350DTthe suit351NNsuit can352MDcan 't353RB't be354VBbe dismissed355VVNdismiss without356INwithout notice357NNnotice and358CCand ...359:... and360CCand approval361NNapproval by362INby the363DTthe United364NPUnited States365NPSStates .366SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]367LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] The368DTthe government369NNgovernment does370VVZdo have371VHhave certain372JJcertain rights373NNSright ,374,, Your375PP$your Honor376NPHonor ,377,, when378WRBwhen it379PPit does380VVZdo not381RBnot intervene382VVintervene ,383,, but384CCbut it385PPit is386VBZbe not387RBnot a388DTa party389NNparty .390SENT. This391DTthis Court392NPCourt held393VVDhold that394IN/thatthat in395INin Eisen396NPEisen ...397:... the398DTthe Eisenstadt399NPEisenstadt case400NNcase .401SENT. And402CCand ...403:... and404CCand the405DTthe ...406:... the407DTthe key408NNkey here409RBhere ,410,, Your411PP$your Honor412NPHonor ,413,, is414VBZbe ,415,, if416INif we417PPwe look418VVPlook at419INat the420DTthe text421NNtext of422INof the423DTthe statute424NNstatute ,425,, it426PPit ...427:... there428EXthere are429VBPbe multiple430JJmultiple textual431JJtextual cues432NNScue .433SENT. The434DTthe first435JJfirst are436VBPbe that437IN/thatthat the438DTthe provision439NNprovision ,440,, Section441NPSection 3731442CD@card@ (443(( b444LSb )445)) (446(( 2447LS2 )448)) ,449,, only450RBonly refers451VVZrefer to452TOto the453DTthe United454NPUnited States455NPSStates .456SENT. And457CCand the458DTthe statute459NNstatute refers460VVZrefer to461TOto relators462NNSrelator and463CCand the464DTthe United465NPUnited States466NPSStates separately467RBseparately throughout468INthroughout .469SENT. But470CCbut it471PPit only472RBonly refers473VVZrefer to474TOto the475DTthe United476NPUnited States477NPSStates .478SENT. And479CCand as480INas Judge481NPJudge Wilkinson482NPWilkinson in483INin the484DTthe Sanders485NPSanders case486NNcase from487INfrom the488DTthe Fourth489JJfourth Circuit490NNcircuit noted491VVDnote ,492,, it493PPit makes494VVZmake no495DTno sense496NNsense to497TOto apply498VVapply this499DTthis tolling500VVGtoll provision501NNprovision to502TOto a503DTa relator504NNrelator where505WRBwhere the506DTthe United507NPUnited States508NPSStates is509VBZbe not510RBnot involved511VVNinvolve .512SENT. The513DTthe language514NNlanguage is515VBZbe that516IN/thatthat the517DTthe knowledge518NNknowledge of519INof the520DTthe official521NNofficial of522INof the523DTthe United524NPUnited States525NPSStates charged526VVDcharge with527INwith responsibility528NNresponsibility to529TOto act530VVact in531INin the532DTthe circumstances533NNScircumstance triggers534VVZtrigger the535DTthe statute536NNstatute of537INof limitations538NNSlimitation .539SENT. So540INso knowledge541NNknowledge of542INof a543DTa third544JJthird party545NNparty that546WDTthat 's547VBZbe not548RBnot a549DTa party550NNparty to551TOto the552DTthe case553NNcase would554MDwould somehow555RBsomehow put556VVput the557DTthe plaintiff558NNplaintiff who559WPwho 's560VBZbe ...561:... who562WPwho 's563VBZbe the564DTthe ...565:... the566DTthe relator567NNrelator ,568,, who569WPwho 's570VBZbe not571RBnot an572DTan injured573JJinjured party574NNparty ,575,, on576INon notice577NNnotice that578IN/thatthat there579EXthere 's580VBZbe a581DTa claim582NNclaim ,583,, it584PPit could585MDcould start586VVstart the587DTthe clock588NNclock ticking589VVGtick without590INwithout the591DTthe relator592NNrelator even593RBeven knowing594VVGknow it595PPit .596SENT. [JUSTICE GORSUCH]597LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] Mr598NPMr .599SENT. Boutrous600NPBoutrous ,601,, I602PPI understand603VVPunderstand your604PP$your argument605NNargument that606IN/thatthat a607DTa non-intervention608NNnon-intervention case609NNcase is610VBZbe not611RBnot a612DTa civil613JJcivil action614NNaction under615INunder Section616NPSection 3730617CD@card@ for618INfor purposes619NNSpurpose of620INof (621(( b622LSb )623)) (624(( 2625LS2 )626)) .627SENT. And628CCand the629DTthe arguments630NNSargument you631PPyou 've632VHPhave just633RBjust given634VVNgive us635PPus ,636,, I637PPI ...638:... I639PPI ...640:... I641PPI ...642:... I643PPI acknowledge644VVPacknowledge those645DTthose and646CCand ...647:... and648CCand your649PP$your response650NNresponse to651TOto Justice652NPJustice Ginsburg653NPGinsburg .654SENT. But655CCbut I656PPI believe657VVPbelieve you658PPyou still659RBstill take660VVPtake the661DTthe position662NNposition that663IN/thatthat the664DTthe very665RBvery same666JJsame case667NNcase is668VBZbe a669DTa civil670JJcivil action671NNaction under672INunder 3730673CD@card@ for674INfor purposes675NNSpurpose of676INof (677(( b678LSb )679)) (680(( 1681LS1 )682)) .683SENT. And684CCand so685RBso you686PPyou 'd687MDwould have688VHhave us689PPus interpret690VVinterpret that691DTthat introductory692JJintroductory language693NNlanguage to694TOto (695(( b696LSb )697)) in698INin two699CDtwo different700JJdifferent ways701NNSway ,702,, one703PPone for704INfor (705(( b706LSb )707)) (708(( 1709LS1 )710)) and711CCand the712DTthe other713JJother for714INfor (715(( b716LSb )717)) (718(( 2719LS2 )720)) .721SENT. How722WRBHow do723VVPdo we724PPwe manage725VVPmanage that726RBthat ?727SENT? That728DTthat 's729VBZbe quite730RBquite a731DTa feat732NNfeat ,733,, do734VVPdo n't735RBn't you736PPyou think737VVPthink ?738SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]739LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Yeah740UHYeah ,741,, I742PPI do743VVPdo n't744RBn't think745VVthink it746PPit 's747VBZbe ...748:... it749PPit 's750VBZbe difficult751JJdifficult at752INat all753DTall ,754,, Your755PP$your Honor756NPHonor ,757,, and758CCand in759INin ...760:... in761INin Graham762NPGraham ,763,, the764DTthe Court765NPCourt said766VVDsay that767DTthat ...768:... [JUSTICE GORSUCH]769LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] But770CCbut Graham771NPGraham ...772:... let773VVlet ...774:... let775VVlet ...776:... sorry777RBsorry to778TOto interrupt779VVinterrupt you780PPyou there781RBthere .782SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]783LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Yes784NPYes .785SENT. [JUSTICE GORSUCH]786LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] But787CCbut I788PPI just789RBjust put790VVDput my791PP$my cards792NNScard on793INon the794DTthe table795NNtable so796INso you797PPyou can798MDcan ...799:... you800PPyou can801MDcan play802VVplay them803PPthem as804INas you805PPyou wish806VVPwish .807SENT. In808INin Graham809NPGraham ,810,, we811PPwe held812VVDhold that813IN/thatthat retaliation814NNretaliation claims815NNSclaim just816RBjust simply817RBsimply are818VBPbe n't819RBn't covered820VVNcover by821INby this822DTthis provision823NNprovision at824INat all825DTall ,826,, and827CCand they828PPthey do829VVPdo n't830RBn't qualify831VVqualify under832INunder that833DTthat introductory834JJintroductory language835NNlanguage for836INfor either837DTeither purposes838NNSpurpose of839INof (840(( b841LSb )842)) (843(( 1844LS1 )845)) or846CCor (847(( b848LSb )849)) (850(( 2851LS2 )852)) .853SENT. Here854RBhere ,855,, you856PPyou 're857VBPbe asking858VVGask us859PPus to860TOto split861VVsplit the862DTthe baby863NNbaby ,864,, as865INas it866PPit were867VBDbe .868SENT. And869CCand we870PPwe normally871RBnormally do872VVPdo n't873RBn't read874VVread the875DTthe same876JJsame language877NNlanguage to878TOto mean879VVmean two880CDtwo different881JJdifferent things882NNSthing .883SENT. And884CCand I885PPI believe886VVPbelieve that887DTthat 's888VBZbe the889DTthe problem890NNproblem you891PPyou face892VVPface that893IN/thatthat we894PPwe did895VVDdo not896RBnot face897VVface in898INin Graham899NPGraham .900SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]901LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well902UHWell ,903,, actually904RBactually ,905,, Your906PP$your Honor907NPHonor ,908,, in909INin Graham910NPGraham ,911,, that912DTthat exact913JJexact issue914NNissue was915VBDbe presented916VVNpresent .917SENT. The918DTthe Court919NPCourt said920VVDsay ,921,, in922INin discussing923VVGdiscuss Section924NPSection 3731925CD@card@ (926(( d927LSd )928)) ,929,, which930WDTwhich at931INat the932DTthe time933NNtime was934VBDbe subsection935NNsubsection (936(( c937LSc )938)) ,939,, that940IN/thatthat the941DTthe language942NNlanguage "943''" action944NNaction brought945VVNbring under946INunder Section947NPSection 3730948CD@card@ "949``" meant950VVNmean only951JJonly actions952NNSaction brought953VVNbring under954INunder the955DTthe United956NPUnited States957NPSStates in958INin that959DTthat provision960NNprovision .961SENT. And962CCand the963DTthe Court964NPCourt said965VVDsay it966PPit was967VBDbe the968DTthe ...969:... basically970RBbasically the971DTthe exact972JJexact same973JJsame language974NNlanguage in975INin Section976NPSection 3731977CD@card@ (978(( b979LSb )980)) (981(( 1982LS1 )983)) ,984,, which985WDTwhich is986VBZbe what987WPwhat the988DTthe Court989NPCourt was990VBDbe talking991VVGtalk about992RBabout .993SENT. The994DTthe Court995NPCourt said996VVDsay that997IN/thatthat Congress998NPCongress spoke999VVDspeak imprecisely1000RBimprecisely ,1001,, used1002VVDuse the1003DTthe term1004NNterm "1005''" actions1006NNSaction under1007INunder Section1008NPSection 37301009CD@card@ "1010``" imprecisely1011RBimprecisely ,1012,, and1013CCand it1014PPit sometimes1015RBsometimes used1016VVDuse that1017DTthat phrase1018NNphrase to1019TOto refer1020VVrefer to1021TOto only1022RBonly a1023DTa subset1024NNsubset of1025INof actions1026NNSaction under1027INunder Section1028NPSection 37301029CD@card@ .1030SENT. And1031CCand in1032INin interpreting1033VVGinterpret Section1034NNsection ...1035:... subsection1036NNsubsection (1037(( d1038LSd )1039)) ,1040,, it1041PPit said1042VVDsay that1043IN/thatthat subset1044NNsubset were1045VBDbe actions1046NNSaction only1047RBonly involving1048VVGinvolve the1049DTthe United1050NPUnited States1051NPSStates .1052SENT. That1053DTthat 's1054VBZbe exactly1055RBexactly what1056WPwhat we1057PPwe 're1058VBPbe arguing1059VVGargue here1060RBhere .1061SENT. So1062RBso ...1063:... and1064CCand the1065DTthe Court1066NPCourt has1067VHZhave ,1068,, Your1069PP$your Honor1070NPHonor ,1071,, in1072INin many1073JJmany instances1074NNSinstance interpreted1075VVDinterpret the1076DTthe same1077JJsame phrase1078NNphrase in1079INin a1080DTa statute1081NNstatute to1082TOto mean1083VVmean different1084JJdifferent things1085NNSthing .1086SENT. In1087INin the1088DTthe Utility1089NPUtility Regulatory1090NPRegulatory Air1091NPAir case1092NNcase ,1093,, for1094INfor example1095NNexample ,1096,, the1097DTthe Court1098NPCourt said1099VVDsay you1100PPyou have1101VHPhave to1102TOto look1103VVlook at1104INat what1105WPwhat is1106VBZbe the1107DTthe language1108NNlanguage doing1109VVGdo in1110INin a1111DTa particular1112JJparticular provision1113NNprovision .1114SENT. How1115WRBHow is1116VBZbe it1117PPit interacting1118VVGinteract with1119INwith the1120DTthe other1121JJother provisions1122NNSprovision ?1123SENT? Here1124RBhere ,1125,, section1126NNsection ...1127:... subsections1128NNSsubsection (1129(( b1130LSb )1131)) (1132(( 11133LS1 )1134)) and1135CCand (1136(( b1137LSb )1138)) (1139(( 21140LS2 )1141)) are1142VBPbe very1143RBvery different1144JJdifferent provisions1145NNSprovision .1146SENT. It1147PPit 's1148VBZbe not1149RBnot like1150INlike just1151RBjust a1152DTa word1153NNword following1154VVGfollow a1155DTa defined1156VVNdefine term1157NNterm ;1158:; (1159(( b1160LSb )1161)) (1162(( 11163LS1 )1164)) is1165VBZbe triggered1166VVNtrigger by1167INby a1168DTa violation1169NNviolation of1170INof Section1171NPSection 161172CD@card@ 37291173CD@card@ .1174SENT. [JUSTICE GORSUCH]1175LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] But1176CCbut just1177RBjust so1178RBso I1179PPI understand1180VVPunderstand your1181PP$your argument1182NNargument ,1183,, and1184CCand we1185PPwe can1186MDcan ...1187:... we1188PPwe can1189MDcan put1190VVput it1191PPit in1192INin a1193DTa nutshell1194NNnutshell and1195CCand then1196RBthen you1197PPyou can1198MDcan move1199VVmove on1200INon ,1201,, you1202PPyou read1203VVPread that1204DTthat language1205NNlanguage ,1206,, a1207DTa civil1208JJcivil action1209NNaction under1210INunder 37301211CD@card@ ,1212,, to1213TOto mean1214VVmean cases1215NNScase where1216WRBwhere there1217EXthere 's1218VBZbe no1219DTno intervention1220NNintervention when1221WRBwhen we1222PPwe come1223VVPcome to1224TOto (1225(( b1226LSb )1227)) (1228(( 11229LS1 )1230)) but1231CCbut not1232RBnot (1233(( b1234LSb )1235)) (1236(( 21237LS2 )1238)) ,1239,, is1240VBZbe that1241DTthat right1242NNright ?1243SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]1244LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] In1245INin ...1246:... in1247INin (1248(( b1249LSb )1250)) (1251(( 21252LS2 )1253)) ,1254,, we1255PPwe read1256VVPread it1257PPit to1258TOto mean1259VVmean there1260RBthere ...1261:... yes1262UHyes ,1263,, that1264WDTthat 's1265VBZbe correct1266JJcorrect ,1267,, Your1268PP$your Honor1269NPHonor .1270SENT. [JUSTICE GORSUCH]1271LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] Yeah1272NPYeah .1273SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]1274LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] That1275IN/thatthat there1276EXthere must1277MDmust be1278VBbe intervention1279NNintervention under1280INunder (1281(( b1282LSb )1283)) (1284(( 21285LS2 )1286)) .1287SENT. In1288INin Section1289NPSection 51290CD5 (1291(( b1292LSb )1293)) (1294(( 11295LS1 )1296)) ...1297:... [JUSTICE GORSUCH]1298LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] So1299RBso ...1300:... so1301RBso the1302DTthe United1303NPUnited States1304NPSStates is1305VBZbe a1306DTa party1307NNparty for1308INfor purposes1309NNSpurpose of1310INof (1311(( b1312LSb )1313)) (1314(( 11315LS1 )1316)) but1317CCbut 81318CD8 not1319RBnot (1320(( b1321LSb )1322)) (1323(( 21324LS2 )1325)) ...1326:... [MR. BOUTROUS]1327LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] It1328PPit ...1329:... (1330(( b1331LSb )1332)) ...1333:... [JUSTICE GORSUCH]1334LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] ...1335:... put1336VVput differently1337RBdifferently ?1338SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]1339LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] ...1340:... (1341(( b1342LSb )1343)) ...1344:... (1345(( b1346LSb )1347)) (1348(( 11349LS1 )1350)) does1351VVZdo not1352RBnot refer1353VVrefer ...1354:... does1355VVZdo not1356RBnot distinguish1357VVdistinguish between1358INbetween the1359DTthe United1360NPUnited States1361NPSStates and1362CCand the1363DTthe relator1364NNrelator .1365SENT. [JUSTICE GORSUCH]1366LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] Right1367NPRight .1368SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]1369LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] (1370(( b1371LSb )1372)) (1373(( 21374LS2 )1375)) does1376VVZdo .1377SENT. It1378PPit specifically1379RBspecifically calls1380VVZcall out1381RPout the1382DTthe United1383NPUnited States1384NPSStates .1385SENT. And1386CCand ...1387:... and1388CCand the1389DTthe statute1390NNstatute of1391INof limitations1392NNSlimitation is1393VBZbe triggered1394VVNtrigger based1395VVNbase on1396INon the1397DTthe knowledge1398NNknowledge of1399INof the1400DTthe official1401NNofficial of1402INof the1403DTthe United1404NPUnited States1405NPSStates charged1406VVDcharge with1407INwith responsibility1408NNresponsibility to1409TOto act1410VVact under1411INunder the1412DTthe circumstances1413NNScircumstance .1414SENT. [JUSTICE KAGAN]1415LOC[JUSTICE KAGAN] Does1416VVZdo ...1417:... does1418VVZdo that1419DTthat mean1420NNmean ,1421,, Mr1422NPMr .1423SENT. Boutrous1424NPBoutrous ,1425,, that1426IN/thatthat the1427DTthe statute1428NNstatute of1429INof limitations1430NNSlimitation can1431MDcan change1432VVchange in1433INin the1434DTthe middle1435NNmiddle of1436INof the1437DTthe lawsuit1438NNlawsuit if1439INif the1440DTthe government1441NNgovernment decides1442VVZdecide to1443TOto intervene1444VVintervene ?1445SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]1446LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] It1447PPit does1448VVZdo n't1449RBn't change1450VVchange ,1451,, Your1452PP$your Honor1453NPHonor .1454SENT. For1455INfor a1456DTa relator1457NNrelator ,1458,, the1459DTthe statute1460NNstatute of1461INof limitations1462NNSlimitation would1463MDwould be1464VBbe six1465CDsix years1466NNSyear after1467INafter the1468DTthe violation1469NNviolation occurred1470VVDoccur ,1471,, and1472CCand ...1473:... and1474CCand that1475WDTthat would1476MDwould end1477VVend it1478PPit .1479SENT. For1480INfor the1481DTthe United1482NPUnited States1483NPSStates ,1484,, if1485INif the1486DTthe relator1487NNrelator ,1488,, for1489INfor example1490NNexample ,1491,, sued1492VVNsue and1493CCand ...1494:... on1495INon ...1496:... on1497INon its1498PP$its own1499JJown and1500CCand the1501DTthe government1502NNgovernment did1503VVDdo n't1504RBn't intervene1505VVintervene and1506CCand it1507PPit was1508VBDbe more1509JJRmore than1510INthan six1511CDsix years1512NNSyear ,1513,, the1514DTthe claim1515NNclaim would1516MDwould be1517VBbe barred1518VVNbar .1519SENT. But1520CCbut that1521DTthat does1522VVZdo n't1523RBn't mean1524VVmean the1525DTthe statute1526NNstatute of1527INof limitations1528NNSlimitation is1529VBZbe changing1530VVGchange .1531SENT. The1532DTthe United1533NPUnited States1534NPSStates would1535MDwould still1536RBstill have1537VHhave the1538DTthe opportunity1539NNopportunity to1540TOto intervene1541VVintervene and1542CCand ,1543,, if1544INif it1545PPit ...1546:... if1547INif the1548DTthe official1549NNofficial charged1550VVNcharge with1551INwith responsibility1552NNresponsibility to1553TOto act1554NNact had1555VHDhave learned1556VVNlearn less1557JJRless than1558INthan three1559CDthree years1560NNSyear after1561INafter ...1562:... before1563INbefore the1564DTthe filing1565NNfiling of1566INof the1567DTthe suit1568NNsuit ,1569,, the1570DTthe claim1571NNclaim would1572MDwould be1573VBbe timely1574JJtimely .1575SENT. So1576INso the1577DTthe statute1578NNstatute of1579INof limitations1580NNSlimitation stays1581VVZstay the1582DTthe same1583JJsame .1584SENT. I1585PPI do1586VVPdo n't1587RBn't think1588VVthink it1589PPit 's1590VBZbe at1591INat all1592DTall complicated1593JJcomplicated .1594SENT. But1595CCbut think1596VVPthink of1597INof the1598DTthe reverse1599NNreverse .1600SENT. Here1601RBhere ,1602,, equitable1603JJequitable tolling1604VVGtoll ...1605:... and1606CCand this1607DTthis goes1608VVZgo to1609TOto the1610DTthe default1611NNdefault rules1612NNSrule .1613SENT. Equitable1614NPEquitable tolling1615VVGtoll is1616VBZbe meant1617VVNmean to1618TOto protect1619VVprotect the1620DTthe injured1621JJinjured party1622NNparty who1623WPwho 's1624VBZbe seeking1625VVGseek recompense1626NNrecompense .1627SENT. That1628DTthat 's1629VBZbe what1630WPwhat the1631DTthe Court1632NPCourt said1633VVDsay in1634INin Gabelli1635NPGabelli ,1636,, where1637WRBwhere it1638PPit 's1639VBZbe talking1640VVGtalk about1641INabout civil1642JJcivil enforcement1643NNenforcement penalties1644NNSpenalty brought1645VVNbring ...1646:... sought1647VVNseek by1648INby the1649DTthe SEC1650NPSEC .1651SENT. And1652CCand ...1653:... and1654CCand this1655DTthis Court1656NPCourt said1657VVDsay it1658PPit had1659VHDhave never1660RBnever applied1661VVNapply equitable1662JJequitable tolling1663VVGtoll or1664CCor the1665DTthe discovery1666NNdiscovery rule1667NNrule where1668WRBwhere the1669DTthe government1670NNgovernment is1671VBZbe seeking1672VVGseek penalties1673NNSpenalty and1674CCand not1675RBnot seeking1676VVGseek compensation1677NNcompensation for1678INfor itself1679PPitself .1680SENT. That1681DTthat 's1682VBZbe what1683WPwhat the1684DTthe relator1685NNrelator is1686VBZbe doing1687VVGdo here1688RBhere .1689SENT. [JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR]1690LOC[JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR] But1691CCbut you1692PPyou see1693VVPsee ,1694,, the1695DTthe problem1696NNproblem I1697PPI have1698VHPhave is1699VBZbe that1700IN/thatthat I1701PPI know1702VVPknow that1703IN/thatthat it1704PPit appears1705VVZappear to1706TOto give1707VVgive the1708DTthe relator1709NNrelator more1710RBRmore of1711INof a1712DTa statute1713NNstatute of1714INof limitations1715NNSlimitation than1716INthan the1717DTthe government1718NNgovernment ,1719,, but1720CCbut ,1721,, if1722INif you1723PPyou look1724VVPlook at1725INat this1726DTthis statute1727NNstatute more1728RBRmore broadly1729RBbroadly ,1730,, which1731WDTwhich is1732VBZbe that1733IN/thatthat its1734PP$its purpose1735NNpurpose is1736VBZbe to1737TOto ensure1738VVensure that1739IN/thatthat when1740WRBwhen some1741DTsome fraud1742NNfraud has1743VHZhave occurred1744VVNoccur against1745INagainst the1746DTthe U1747NPU .1748SENT. S1749NNS .1750SENT. ,1751,, that1752IN/thatthat there1753EXthere is1754VBZbe recovery1755NNrecovery for1756INfor the1757DTthe United1758NPUnited States1759NPSStates ,1760,, and1761CCand the1762DTthe qui1763NPqui tam1764NNtam actions1765NNSaction ,1766,, whether1767INwhether it1768PPit 's1769VBZbe the1770DTthe relator1771NNrelator or1772CCor the1773DTthe U1774NPU .1775SENT. S1776NPS .1777SENT. prosecuting1778VVGprosecute it1779PPit ,1780,, the1781DTthe recovery1782NNrecovery in1783INin bulk1784NNbulk ,1785,, as1786INas Justice1787NPJustice Ginsburg1788NPGinsburg mentioned1789VVDmention ,1790,, goes1791VVZgo to1792TOto the1793DTthe government1794NNgovernment .1795SENT. So1796RBso there1797EXthere is1798VBZbe a1799DTa purpose1800NNpurpose to1801TOto this1802DTthis and1803CCand one1804CDone that1805WDTthat makes1806VVZmake logical1807JJlogical sense1808NNsense ,1809,, which1810WDTwhich is1811VBZbe why1812WRBwhy should1813MDshould it1814PPit matter1815VVmatter that1816IN/thatthat it1817PPit 's1818VBZbe the1819DTthe government1820NNgovernment 's1821POS's knowledge1822NNknowledge that1823WDTthat is1824VBZbe at1825INat issue1826NNissue when1827WRBwhen it1828PPit 's1829VBZbe the1830DTthe government1831NNgovernment who1832WPwho stands1833VVZstand to1834TOto benefit1835VVbenefit from1836INfrom a1837DTa longer1838JJRlong statute1839NNstatute of1840INof limitations1841NNSlimitation ?1842SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]1843LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well1844UHWell ,1845,, the1846DTthe ...1847:... Your1848PP$your Honor1849NPHonor ,1850,, the1851DTthe government1852NNgovernment would1853MDwould benefit1854VVbenefit from1855INfrom the1856DTthe longer1857JJRlong statute1858NNstatute of1859INof limitations1860NNSlimitation .1861SENT. It1862PPit would1863MDwould have1864VHhave the1865DTthe opportunity1866NNopportunity to1867TOto ...1868:... [JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR]1869LOC[JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR] No1870NPNo ,1871,, but1872CCbut you1873PPyou 're1874VBPbe forcing1875VVGforce it1876PPit to1877TOto do1878VVdo something1879NNsomething that1880IN/thatthat the1881DTthe statute1882NNstatute clearly1883RBclearly does1884VVZdo n't1885RBn't want1886VVwant to1887TOto force1888VVforce the1889DTthe government1890NNgovernment to1891TOto do1892VVdo ,1893,, which1894WDTwhich is1895VBZbe you1896PPyou 're1897VBPbe forcing1898VVGforce it1899PPit to1900TOto step1901VVstep into1902INinto the1903DTthe shoes1904NNSshoe of1905INof the1906DTthe relator1907NNrelator ,1908,, but1909CCbut the1910DTthe statute1911NNstatute clearly1912RBclearly gives1913VVZgive the1914DTthe government1915NNgovernment the1916DTthe option1917NNoption not1918RBnot to1919TOto .1920SENT. And1921CCand you1922PPyou 're1923VBPbe saying1924VVGsay read1925VVread this1926DTthis in1927INin a1928DTa way1929NNway that1930WDTthat forces1931VVZforce the1932DTthe government1933NNgovernment to1934TOto do1935VVdo it1936PPit .1937SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]1938LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well1939UHwell ,1940,, it1941PPit would1942MDwould n't1943RBn't be1944VBbe forced1945VVNforce ,1946,, Your1947PP$your Honor1948NPHonor .1949SENT. It1950PPit would1951MDwould consider1952VVconsider the1953DTthe fact1954NNfact that1955IN/thatthat the1956DTthe claim1957NNclaim would1958MDwould be1959VBbe rendered1960VVNrender untimely1961RBuntimely as1962INas part1963NNpart of1964INof the1965DTthe suite1966NNsuite of1967INof factors1968NNSfactor it1969PPit normally1970RBnormally would1971MDwould consider1972VVconsider .1973SENT. Here1974RBhere ,1975,, the1976DTthe government1977NNgovernment was1978VBDbe not1979RBnot forced1980VVNforce into1981INinto filing1982NNfiling ...1983:... intervening1984VVGintervene .1985SENT. It1986PPit decided1987VVDdecide that1988IN/thatthat based1989VVNbase on1990INon its1991PP$its evaluation1992NNevaluation of1993INof the1994DTthe merits1995NNSmerit and1996CCand of1997INof cost1998NNcost and1999CCand other2000JJother factors2001NNSfactor it2002PPit would2003MDwould n't2004RBn't do2005VVdo that2006DTthat .2007SENT. But2008CCbut it2009PPit ...2010:... Your2011PP$your Honor2012NPHonor ,2013,, there2014EXthere 's2015VBZbe ...2016:... it2017PPit 's2018VBZbe not2019RBnot just2020RBjust the2021DTthe recovery2022NNrecovery for2023INfor the2024DTthe government2025NNgovernment .2026SENT. It2027PPit 's2028VBZbe rapid2029JJrapid exposure2030NNexposure of2031INof fraud2032NNfraud .2033SENT. Congress2034NPCongress and2035CCand this2036DTthis Court2037NPCourt said2038VVDsay it2039PPit way2040RBway back2041RBback when2042WRBwhen in2043INin the2044DTthe Marcus2045NPMarcus versus2046CCversus Hess2047NPHess case2048NNcase ,2049,, the2050DTthe False2051JJfalse Claims2052NPClaims Act2053NPAct was2054VBDbe meant2055VVNmean to2056TOto spur2057VVspur rapid2058JJrapid ferreting2059VVGferret out2060RPout of2061INof fraud2062NNfraud by2063INby privateers2064NNSprivateer or2065CCor bounty2066NNbounty hunters2067NNShunter or2068CCor people2069NNSpeople who2070WPwho were2071VBDbe on2072INon the2073DTthe scene2074NNscene .2075SENT. This2076DTthis would2077MDwould do2078VVdo the2079DTthe opposite2080NNopposite .2081SENT. So2082RBso it2083PPit 's2084VBZbe inconsistent2085JJinconsistent with2086INwith the2087DTthe purposes2088NNSpurpose of2089INof the2090DTthe False2091JJfalse Claims2092NPClaims Act2093NPAct and2094CCand with2095INwith the2096DTthe purpose2097NNpurpose of2098INof statutes2099NNSstatute of2100INof limitations2101NNSlimitation ,2102,, which2103WDTwhich are2104VBPbe meant2105VVNmean ...2106:... [JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR]2107LOC[JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR] Well2108UHWell ,2109,, no2110DTno longer2111JJRlong ,2112,, because2113RBbecause ,2114,, in2115INin 19962116CD@card@ ,2117,, Congress2118NPCongress made2119VVDmake one2120CDone of2121INof the2122DTthe factors2123NNSfactor relevant2124JJrelevant to2125TOto how2126WRBhow much2127JJmuch a2128DTa relator2129NNrelator recovers2130VVZrecover whether2131INwhether they2132PPthey were2133VBDbe dilatory2134JJdilatory in2135INin bringing2136VVGbring the2137DTthe action2138NNaction .2139SENT. I2140PPI know2141VVPknow that2142WDTthat has2143VHZhave little2144RBlittle to2145TOto do2146VVdo with2147INwith the2148DTthe original2149JJoriginal interpretation2150NNinterpretation ,2151,, but2152CCbut that2153DTthat 's2154VBZbe not2155RBnot a2156DTa consequence2157NNconsequence today2158NNtoday .2159SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]2160LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] But2161CCbut ...2162:... [JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR]2163LOC[JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR] There2164EXthere 's2165VBZbe still2166RBstill a2167DTa direct2168JJdirect incentive2169NNincentive .2170SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]2171LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] ...2172:... it2173PPit can2174MDcan have2175VHhave an2176DTan effect2177NNeffect .2178SENT. And2179CCand I2180PPI think2181VVPthink one2182PPone of2183INof the2184DTthe cases2185NNScase that2186WDTthat was2187VBDbe cited2188VVNcite by2189INby the2190DTthe other2191JJother side2192NNside showed2193VVDshow that2194IN/thatthat there2195EXthere was2196VBDbe a2197DTa modest2198JJmodest reduction2199NNreduction .2200SENT. But2201CCbut the2202DTthe ...2203:... the2204DTthe principle2205NNprinciple here2206RBhere that2207IN/thatthat a2208DTa relator2209NNrelator ,2210,, for2211INfor example2212NNexample ,2213,, Mr2214NPMr .2215SENT. Hunt2216NPHunt waited2217VVDwait seven2218CDseven years2219NNSyear ,2220,, and2221CCand one2222CDone of2223INof the2224DTthe cases2225NNScase that2226WDTthat creates2227VVZcreate the2228DTthe conflict2229NNconflict that2230WDTthat brings2231VVZbring us2232PPus here2233RBhere was2234VBDbe eight2235CDeight or2236CCor nine2237CDnine years2238NNSyear .2239SENT. It2240PPit is2241VBZbe so2242RBso contrary2243JJcontrary to2244TOto the2245DTthe very2246JJvery essence2247NNessence of2248INof equitable2249JJequitable tolling2250VVGtoll to2251TOto allow2252VVallow someone2253NNsomeone to2254TOto lie2255VVlie in2256INin the2257DTthe weeds2258NNSweed and2259CCand conceal2260VVconceal from2261INfrom the2262DTthe United2263NPUnited States2264NPSStates ...2265:... [CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS]2266LOC[CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS] Well2267UHWell ,2268,, that2269WDTthat 's2270VBZbe ...2271:... that2272WDTthat 's2273VBZbe really2274RBreally more2275JJRmore of2276INof an2277DTan academic2278JJacademic concern2279NNconcern .2280SENT. The2281DTthe relators2282NNSrelator ,2283,, for2284INfor example2285NNexample ,2286,, they2287PPthey know2288VVPknow if2289INif they2290PPthey do2291VVPdo n't2292RBn't move2293VVmove promptly2294RBpromptly ,2295,, another2296DTanother relator2297NNrelator might2298MDmight preempt2299VVpreempt them2300PPthem .2301SENT. They2302PPthey know2303VVPknow that2304IN/thatthat if2305INif they2306PPthey do2307VVPdo n't2308RBn't move2309VVmove promptly2310RBpromptly ,2311,, the2312DTthe government2313NNgovernment itself2314PPitself might2315MDmight find2316VVfind out2317RPout before2318INbefore they2319PPthey have2320VHPhave a2321DTa chance2322NNchance to2323TOto file2324VVfile ,2325,, and2326CCand that2327WDTthat would2328MDwould preempt2329VVpreempt their2330PP$their action2331NNaction as2332INas well2333RBwell .2334SENT. The2335DTthe ...2336:... the2337DTthe theory2338NNtheory of2339INof a2340DTa relator2341NNrelator just2342RBjust sort2343VVsort of2344INof ,2345,, as2346INas you2347PPyou say2348VVPsay ,2349,, waiting2350VVGwait in2351INin the2352DTthe weeds2353NNSweed I2354PPI think2355VVPthink is2356VBZbe not2357RBnot a2358DTa realistic2359JJrealistic one2360CDone .2361SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]2362LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well2363UHWell ,2364,, Your2365PP$your Honor2366NPHonor ,2367,, that2368WDTthat ...2369:... this2370DTthis case2371NNcase proves2372VVZprove the2373DTthe opposite2374NNopposite .2375SENT. It2376PPit 's2377VBZbe not2378RBnot academic2379JJacademic .2380SENT. Here2381RBhere ,2382,, the2383DTthe relator2384NNrelator waited2385VVDwait seven2386CDseven years2387NNSyear .2388SENT. In2389INin other2390JJother cases2391NNScase ,2392,, in2393INin the2394DTthe Sanders2395NPSanders case2396NNcase ,2397,, I2398PPI think2399VVPthink it2400PPit was2401VBDbe seven2402CDseven or2403CCor eight2404CDeight years2405NNSyear .2406SENT. But2407CCbut think2408VVPthink of2409INof it2410PPit this2411DTthis way2412NNway :2413:: If2414INif a2415DTa relator2416NNrelator 's2417POS's case2418NNcase is2419VBZbe baseless2420JJbaseless ,2421,, if2422INif it2423PPit 's2424VBZbe a2425DTa concocted2426VVNconcoct claim2427NNclaim ,2428,, if2429INif it2430PPit can2431MDcan ...2432:... if2433INif it2434PPit 's2435VBZbe a2436DTa meritless2437NNmeritless claim2438NNclaim ,2439,, those2440DTthose incentives2441NNSincentive about2442INabout moving2443VVGmove quickly2444RBquickly do2445VVPdo n't2446RBn't spark2447VVspark the2448DTthe relator2449NNrelator to2450TOto do2451VVdo anything2452NNanything .2453SENT. They2454PPthey 're2455VBPbe better2456JJRgood off2457RPoff just2458RBjust waiting2459VVGwait ,2460,, letting2461VVGlet damages2462NNSdamage that2463IN/thatthat they2464PPthey 're2465VBPbe going2466VVGgo to2467TOto claim2468VVclaim pile2469VVpile up2470RPup ,2471,, treble2472JJtreble damages2473NNSdamage ,2474,, and2475CCand there2476EXthere they2477PPthey ...2478:... they2479PPthey can2480MDcan amass2481VVamass whatever2482WDTwhatever evidence2483NNevidence they2484PPthey have2485VHPhave while2486INwhile the2487DTthe defendant2488NNdefendant has2489VHZhave no2490DTno idea2491NNidea that2492IN/thatthat someone2493NNsomeone is2494VBZbe going2495VVGgo to2496TOto bring2497VVbring this2498DTthis claim2499NNclaim .2500SENT. [JUSTICE GINSBURG]2501LOC[JUSTICE GINSBURG] But2502CCbut you2503PPyou just2504RBjust ...2505:... you2506PPyou just2507RBjust ...2508:... you2509PPyou prefaced2510VVDpreface this2511DTthis by2512INby saying2513VVGsay if2514INif the2515DTthe claim2516NNclaim is2517VBZbe baseless2518JJbaseless .2519SENT. So2520INso none2521NNnone of2522INof that2523WDTthat is2524VBZbe going2525VVGgo to2526TOto happen2527VVhappen if2528INif the2529DTthe claim2530NNclaim is2531VBZbe baseless2532JJbaseless .2533SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]2534LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well2535UHWell ,2536,, but2537CCbut ...2538:... but2539CCbut ,2540,, Your2541PP$your Honor2542NPHonor ,2543,, these2544DTthese False2545JJfalse Claims2546NPClaims Act2547NPAct ,2548,, I2549PPI think2550VVPthink the2551DTthe amicus2552NNamicus briefs2553NNSbrief demonstrate2554VVPdemonstrate ,2555,, they2556PPthey do2557VVPdo present2558VVpresent a2559DTa problem2560NNproblem potentially2561RBpotentially of2562INof abuse2563NNabuse ,2564,, and2565CCand ...2566:... and2567CCand throughout2568INthroughout history2569NNhistory ,2570,, qui2571NPqui tam2572NNtam actions2573NNSaction have2574VHPhave created2575VVNcreate such2576JJsuch problems2577NNSproblem .2578SENT. I2579PPI 'm2580VBPbe not2581RBnot saying2582VVGsay they2583PPthey all2584RBall are2585VBPbe .2586SENT. But2587CCbut what2588WPwhat I2589PPI am2590VBPbe saying2591VVGsay is2592VBZbe that2593IN/thatthat the2594DTthe incentives2595NNSincentive do2596VVPdo n't2597RBn't necessarily2598RBnecessarily cause2599VVcause people2600NNSpeople to2601TOto file2602VVfile quickly2603RBquickly ,2604,, as2605INas this2606DTthis case2607NNcase and2608CCand many2609JJmany others2610NNSother demonstrate2611VVPdemonstrate .2612SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]2613LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] You're2614NPYou're ...2615:... [MR. BOUTROUS]2616LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] But2617CCbut the2618DTthe point2619NNpoint is2620VBZbe ,2621,, even2622RBeven if2623INif the2624DTthe incentives2625NNSincentive are2626VBPbe ...2627:... there2628EXthere are2629VBPbe incentives2630NNSincentive there2631RBthere ,2632,, this2633DTthis is2634VBZbe another2635DTanother thing2636NNthing that2637IN/thatthat a2638DTa relator2639NNrelator could2640MDcould consider2641VVconsider .2642SENT. They2643PPthey can2644MDcan wait2645VVwait .2646SENT. That2647DTthat 's2648VBZbe flatly2649RBflatly contrary2650JJcontrary to2651TOto equitable2652JJequitable tolling2653VVGtoll ,2654,, and2655CCand that2656DTthat 's2657VBZbe the2658DTthe background2659NNbackground rule2660NNrule that2661IN/thatthat Congress2662NPCongress was2663VBDbe thinking2664VVGthink of2665INof .2666SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]2667LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] You2668PPyou 're2669VBPbe not2670RBnot arguing2671VVGargue that2672IN/thatthat it2673PPit would2674MDwould be2675VBbe absurd2676JJabsurd to2677TOto read2678VVread it2679PPit as2680INas Respondent2681NNrespondent and2682CCand the2683DTthe Solicitor2684NPSolicitor General2685NPGeneral read2686VVDread it2687PPit ?2688SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]2689LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] We2690PPwe are2691VBPbe not2692RBnot .2693SENT. We2694PPwe are2695VBPbe arguing2696VVGargue that2697IN/thatthat it2698PPit 's2699VBZbe counterintuitive2700JJcounterintuitive ,2701,, just2702RBjust like2703INlike the2704DTthe rule2705NNrule in2706INin Graham2707NPGraham that2708WDTthat was2709VBDbe rejected2710VVNreject .2711SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]2712LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] Counterintuitive2713JJcounterintuitive ,2714,, Congress2715NPCongress likely2716RBlikely did2717VVDdo not2718RBnot mean2719VVmean what2720WPwhat it2721PPit said2722VVDsay ,2723,, it2724PPit seems2725VVZseem to2726TOto be2727VBbe what2728WPwhat you2729PPyou 're2730VBPbe suggesting2731VVGsuggest ?2732SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]2733LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] No2734NPNo ,2735,, Your2736PP$your Honor2737NPHonor .2738SENT. We2739PPwe mean2740VVPmean that2741IN/thatthat Congress2742NPCongress did2743VVDdo mean2744VVmean what2745WPwhat it2746PPit said2747VVDsay ,2748,, that2749IN/thatthat where2750WRBwhere the2751DTthe United2752NPUnited States2753NPStates official2754NNofficial who2755WPwho 's2756VBZbe charged2757VVNcharge with2758INwith responsibility2759NNresponsibility for2760INfor filing2761VVGfile a2762DTa timely2763JJtimely action2764NNaction ,2765,, when2766WRBwhen the2767DTthe government2768NNgovernment ...2769:... [JUSTICE GINSBURG]2770LOC[JUSTICE GINSBURG] Except2771INexcept it2772PPit did2773VVDdo n't2774RBn't say2775VVsay that2776DTthat .2777SENT. It2778PPit has2779VHZhave a2780DTa statute2781NNstatute .2782SENT. It2783PPit says2784VVZsay civil2785JJcivil action2786NNaction .2787SENT. And2788CCand then2789RBthen it2790PPit says2791VVZsay ,2792,, one2793CDone ,2794,, or2795CCor two2796CDtwo ,2797,, whichever2798WDTwhichever is2799VBZbe later2800JJRlate ,2801,, and2802CCand makes2803VVZmake no2804DTno distinction2805NNdistinction in2806INin the2807DTthe text2808NNtext between2809INbetween the2810DTthe United2811NPUnited States2812NPSStates stepping2813VVGstep in2814INin as2815INas intervenor2816NNintervenor or2817CCor the2818DTthe qui2819NPqui tam2820NNtam plaintiff2821NNplaintiff going2822VVGgo it2823PPit alone2824RBalone .2825SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]2826LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Justice2827NPJustice Ginsburg2828NPGinsburg ,2829,, I2830PPI think2831VVPthink we2832PPwe crossed2833VVDcross that2834DTthat bridge2835NNbridge in2836INin Graham2837NPGraham ,2838,, the2839DTthe fact2840NNfact that2841WDTthat ...2842:... that2843IN/thatthat that2844DTthat language2845NNlanguage ...2846:... [JUSTICE GINSBURG]2847LOC[JUSTICE GINSBURG] But2848CCbut Graham2849NPGraham was2850VBDbe ...2851:... Graham2852NPGraham was2853VBDbe a2854DTa retaliation2855NNretaliation claim2856NNclaim .2857SENT. And2858CCand there2859EXthere it2860PPit was2861VBDbe a2862DTa case2863NNcase where2864WRBwhere ,2865,, to2866TOto bring2867VVbring a2868DTa retaliation2869NNretaliation claim2870NNclaim ,2871,, you2872PPyou do2873VVPdo n't2874RBn't have2875VHhave to2876TOto prove2877VVprove there2878EXthere was2879VBDbe any2880DTany fraud2881NNfraud at2882INat all2883DTall ,2884,, just2885RBjust that2886IN/thatthat you2887PPyou were2888VBDbe retaliated2889VVNretaliate against2890INagainst ,2891,, and2892CCand the2893DTthe retaliation2894NNretaliation could2895MDcould occur2896VVoccur after2897INafter the2898DTthe statute2899NNstatute of2900INof limitations2901NNSlimitation ran2902VVDrun .2903SENT. So2904RBso that2905IN/thatthat ,2906,, if2907INif there2908EXthere are2909VBPbe absurd2910JJabsurd results2911NNSresult ,2912,, it2913PPit seems2914VVZseem to2915TOto me2916PPme that2917IN/thatthat would2918MDwould ...2919:... would2920MDwould fit2921VVfit ,2922,, that2923IN/thatthat you2924PPyou do2925VVPdo n't2926RBn't even2927RBeven have2928VHhave a2929DTa claim2930NNclaim that2931IN/thatthat you2932PPyou can2933MDcan sue2934VVsue on2935INon until2936INuntil the2937DTthe statute2938NNstatute of2939INof limitations2940NNSlimitation has2941VHZhave already2942RBalready run2943VVNrun .2944SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]2945LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] That2946DTthat was2947VBDbe one2948CDone aspect2949NNaspect of2950INof Graham2951NPGraham .2952SENT. But2953CCbut the2954DTthe way2955NNway the2956DTthe Court2957NPCourt got2958VVDget there2959RBthere ...2960:... and2961CCand the2962DTthe dissent2963NNdissent in2964INin Graham2965NPGraham did2966VVDdo not2967RBnot think2968VVthink it2969PPit was2970VBDbe an2971DTan absurd2972JJabsurd position2973NNposition .2974SENT. That2975IN/thatthat it2976PPit was2977VBDbe counterintuitive2978JJcounterintuitive is2979VBZbe what2980WPwhat the2981DTthe majority2982NNmajority said2983VVDsay .2984SENT. But2985RBbut ,2986,, Your2987PP$your Honor2988NPHonor ,2989,, it2990PPit ...2991:... Graham2992NPGraham did2993VVDdo n't2994RBn't just2995RBjust talk2996VVtalk about2997INabout the2998DTthe retaliation2999NNretaliation provision3000NNprovision ,3001,, subsection3002NNsubsection (3003(( h3004NNh )3005)) .3006SENT. It3007PPit talked3008VVDtalk about3009INabout 37313010CD@card@ (3011(( d3012LSd )3013)) that3014WDTthat provides3015VVZprovide in3016INin an3017DTan action3018NNaction under3019INunder Section3020NPSection 303021CD@card@ ...3022:... brought3023VVNbring under3024INunder Section3025NPSection 37303026CD@card@ ,3027,, the3028DTthe United3029NPUnited States3030NPSStates must3031MDmust prove3032VVprove the3033DTthe elements3034NNSelement by3035INby a3036DTa preponderance3037NNpreponderance of3038INof the3039DTthe evidence3040NNevidence .3041SENT. And3042CCand the3043DTthe Court3044NPCourt held3045VVDhold that3046IN/thatthat that3047DTthat provision3048NNprovision only3049RBonly applied3050VVNapply to3051TOto actions3052NNSaction brought3053VVNbring by3054INby the3055DTthe United3056NPUnited States3057NPSStates or3058CCor where3059WRBwhere they3060PPthey intervened3061VVDintervene ,3062,, even3063RBeven though3064INthough it3065PPit was3066VBDbe even3067RBeven broader3068JJRbroad .3069SENT. It3070PPit said3071VVDsay any3072DTany action3073NNaction under3074INunder Section3075NPSection 37303076CD@card@ .3077SENT. And3078CCand the3079DTthe Court3080NPCourt held3081VVDhold that3082IN/thatthat Congress3083NPCongress was3084VBDbe imprecise3085JJimprecise .3086SENT. It3087PPit 's3088VBZbe not3089RBnot that3090IN/thatthat they3091PPthey did3092VVDdo n't3093RBn't mean3094VVmean what3095WPwhat they3096PPthey said3097VVDsay .3098SENT. They3099PPthey were3100VBDbe imprecise3101JJimprecise when3102WRBwhen they3103PPthey ...3104:... [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]3105LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] Why3106WRBwhy is3107VBZbe this3108DTthis imprecise3109JJimprecise ?3110SENT? It3111PPit seems3112VVZseem very3113RBvery clear3114JJclear .3115SENT. Now3116RBnow you3117PPyou then3118RBthen argue3119VVPargue it3120PPit does3121VVZdo n't3122RBn't make3123VVmake a3124DTa ton3125NNton of3126INof sense3127NNsense in3128INin terms3129NNSterm of3130INof the3131DTthe policy3132NNpolicy objectives3133NNSobjective ,3134,, tolling3135VVGtoll principles3136NNSprinciple ,3137,, I3138PPI ...3139:... I3140PPI get3141VVPget all3142PDTall that3143DTthat ,3144,, but3145CCbut it3146PPit ...3147:... it3148PPit seems3149VVZseem very3150RBvery clear3151VVclear as3152RBas written3153VVNwrite .3154SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]3155LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well3156UHWell ,3157,, Your3158PP$your Honor3159NPHonor ,3160,, I3161PPI think3162VVPthink that3163IN/thatthat ,3164,, one3165CDone ,3166,, we3167PPwe have3168VHPhave to3169TOto ...3170:... it3171PPit 's3172VBZbe ...3173:... it3174PPit 's3175VBZbe ...3176:... it3177PPit 's3178VBZbe ...3179:... you3180PPyou can3181MDcan only3182RBonly interpret3183VVinterpret the3184DTthe statute3185NNstatute by3186INby understanding3187VVGunderstand or3188CCor viewing3189VVGview the3190DTthe language3191NNlanguage "3192''" action3193NNaction under3194INunder Section3195NPSection 37303196CD@card@ "3197''" as3198INas appearing3199VVGappear in3200INin both3201DTboth provisions3202NNSprovision .3203SENT. It3204PPit really3205RBreally does3206VVZdo .3207SENT. It3208PPit can3209MDcan 't3210RB't be3211VBbe that3212IN/thatthat the3213DTthe decision3214NNdecision turns3215VVZturn on3216INon the3217DTthe fact3218NNfact that3219IN/thatthat ,3220,, as3221INas a3222DTa drafting3223VVGdraft technique3224NNtechnique ,3225,, Congress3226NPCongress said3227VVDsay it3228PPit once3229RBonce and3230CCand it3231PPit goes3232VVZgo into3233INinto two3234CDtwo very3235RBvery different3236JJdifferent provisions3237NNSprovision .3238SENT. So3239RBso ,3240,, when3241WRBwhen we3242PPwe get3243VVPget to3244TOto Section3245NPSection 37313246CD@card@ (3247(( b3248LSb )3249)) (3250(( 23251LS2 )3252)) ,3253,, the3254DTthe question3255NNquestion is3256VBZbe ,3257,, which3258WDTwhich actions3259NNSaction is3260VBZbe Congress3261NPCongress talking3262VVGtalk about3263RBabout ?3264SENT? And3265CCand the3266DTthe fact3267NNfact ...3268:... it3269PPit 's3270VBZbe not3271RBnot that3272IN/thatthat it3273PPit did3274VVDdo n't3275RBn't mean3276VVmean what3277WPwhat it3278PPit said3279VVDsay .3280SENT. But3281CCbut it3282PPit was3283VBDbe imprecise3284JJimprecise in3285INin the3286DTthe sense3287NNsense that3288IN/thatthat it3289PPit did3290VVDdo n't3291RBn't button3292VVbutton down3293RPdown absolutely3294RBabsolutely clearly3295RBclearly that3296IN/thatthat a3297DTa relator3298NNrelator could3299MDcould n't3300RBn't take3301VVtake advantage3302NNadvantage of3303INof that3304DTthat provision3305NNprovision .3306SENT. But3307CCbut everything3308NNeverything else3309RBelse ...3310:... common3311JJcommon sense3312NNsense ,3313,, logic3314NNlogic ,3315,, the3316DTthe structure3317NNstructure of3318INof the3319DTthe provision3320NNprovision ,3321,, the3322DTthe ...3323:... the3324DTthe ...3325:... the3326DTthe derivation3327NNderivation of3328INof the3329DTthe ...3330:... [JUSTICE GORSUCH]3331LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] Let3332NPLet 's3333POS's talk3334NNtalk about3335INabout common3336JJcommon sense3337NNsense .3338SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]3339LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] What3340WPWhat do3341VVPdo you3342PPyou do3343VVPdo ...3344:... [JUSTICE GORSUCH]3345LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] Oh3346UHoh ,3347,, I3348PPI 'm3349VBPbe sorry3350JJsorry .3351SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]3352LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] Go3353NPGo ahead3354RBahead .3355SENT. [JUSTICE GORSUCH]3356LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] No3357UHNo ,3358,, please3359UHplease .3360SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]3361LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] Go3362NPGo ahead3363RBahead .3364SENT. [3365SYM[ LAUGHTER3366NNlaughter ]3367SYM] [JUSTICE GORSUCH]3368LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] All3369DTall right3370NNright .3371SENT. All3372DTall right3373NNright .3374SENT. Your3375PP$your question3376NNquestion is3377VBZbe probably3378RBprobably better3379JJRgood than3380INthan mine3381NNmine .3382SENT. [3383SYM[ LAUGHTER3384NNlaughter ]3385SYM] [JUSTICE GORSUCH]3386LOC[JUSTICE GORSUCH] This3387DTthis common3388JJcommon sense3389NNsense we3390PPwe keep3391VVPkeep coming3392VVGcome back3393RBback to3394TOto ,3395,, I3396PPI ...3397:... I3398PPI guess3399VVPguess I3400PPI 'm3401VBPbe struggling3402VVGstruggle to3403TOto get3404VVget my3405PP$my head3406NNhead around3407INaround it3408PPit .3409SENT. Congress3410NPCongress ,3411,, you3412PPyou suggest3413VVPsuggest ,3414,, wants3415VVZwant to3416TOto encourage3417VVencourage relators3418NNSrelator to3419TOto act3420VVact quickly3421RBquickly ,3422,, but3423CCbut it3424PPit has3425VHZhave a3426DTa number3427NNnumber of3428INof other3429JJother tools3430NNStool for3431INfor ensuring3432VVGensure that3433IN/thatthat ,3434,, as3435INas the3436DTthe Chief3437NPChief Justice3438NPJustice pointed3439VVDpoint out3440RPout .3441SENT. And3442CCand ,3443,, in3444INin any3445DTany event3446NNevent ,3447,, it3448PPit really3449RBreally boils3450VVZboil down3451RPdown to3452TOto these3453DTthese last3454JJlast three3455CDthree years3456NNSyear ,3457,, seven3458CDseven through3459INthrough ten3460CDten ,3461,, and3462CCand whether3463INwhether Congress3464NPCongress would3465MDwould have3466VHhave thought3467VVNthink that3468IN/thatthat we3469PPwe want3470VVPwant relators3471NNSrelator to3472TOto ...3473:... we3474PPwe want3475VVPwant to3476TOto outsource3477NNoutsource work3478NNwork to3479TOto relators3480NNSrelator years3481NNSyear one3482CDone through3483INthrough six3484CDsix ,3485,, but3486CCbut not3487RBnot seven3488CDseven through3489INthrough ten3490CDten ,3491,, for3492INfor the3493DTthe reasons3494NNSreason that3495WDTthat we3496PPwe want3497VVPwant to3498TOto encourage3499VVencourage relators3500NNSrelator to3501TOto act3502VVact quickly3503RBquickly .3504SENT. But3505CCbut could3506MDcould n't3507RBn't a3508DTa rational3509JJrational Congress3510NPCongress think3511VVPthink ,3512,, well3513RBwell ,3514,, we3515PPwe want3516VVPwant to3517TOto outsource3518NNoutsource the3519DTthe work3520NNwork to3521TOto relators3522NNSrelator seven3523CDseven through3524INthrough ten3525CDten as3526INas well3527RBwell ,3528,, and3529CCand why3530WRBwhy is3531VBZbe that3532IN/thatthat absurd3533JJabsurd or3534CCor unlikely3535JJunlikely or3536CCor why3537WRBwhy does3538VVZdo that3539WDTthat defy3540VVPdefy common3541JJcommon sense3542NNsense ?3543SENT? I3544PPI guess3545VVPguess I3546PPI 'm3547VBPbe just3548RBjust struggling3549VVGstruggle to3550TOto understand3551VVunderstand that3552DTthat argument3553NNargument .3554SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]3555LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Because3556INbecause ,3557,, Your3558PP$your Honor3559NPHonor ,3560,, first3561JJfirst ,3562,, six3563CDsix years3564NNSyear is3565VBZbe a3566DTa long3567JJlong time3568NNtime for3569INfor a3570DTa statute3571NNstatute of3572INof limitations3573NNSlimitation for3574INfor fraud3575NNfraud ,3576,, number3577NNnumber one3578CDone .3579SENT. Number3580NNnumber two3581CDtwo ,3582,, we3583PPwe 're3584VBPbe talking3585VVGtalk about3586RBabout equitable3587JJequitable tolling3588VVGtoll that3589DTthat is3590VBZbe pegged3591VVNpeg on3592INon diligence3593NNdiligence and3594CCand that3595IN/thatthat the3596DTthe ...3597:... that3598IN/thatthat the3599DTthe party3600NNparty who3601WPwho is3602VBZbe bringing3603VVGbring the3604DTthe case3605NNcase acted3606VVDact diligently3607RBdiligently .3608SENT. As3609INas the3610DTthe Court3611NPCourt said3612VVDsay in3613INin Credit3614NPCredit Suisse3615NPSuisse ,3616,, it3617PPit 's3618VBZbe inequitable3619JJinequitable to3620TOto continue3621VVcontinue to3622TOto toll3623VVtoll a3624DTa statute3625NNstatute of3626INof limitations3627NNSlimitation once3628INonce the3629DTthe plaintiff3630NNplaintiff knows3631VVZknow there3632EXthere 's3633VHZhave been3634VBNbe an3635DTan injury3636NNinjury and3637CCand they3638PPthey have3639VHPhave a3640DTa claim3641NNclaim .3642SENT. It3643PPit 's3644VBZbe inequitable3645JJinequitable .3646SENT. So3647RBso Congress3648NPCongress would3649MDwould never3650RBnever have3651VHhave thought3652VVNthink that3653IN/thatthat if3654INif it3655PPit was3656VBDbe ...3657:... in3658INin putting3659VVGput an3660DTan equitable3661JJequitable principle3662NNprinciple ...3663:... tolling3664VVGtoll principle3665NNprinciple into3666INinto the3667DTthe statute3668NNstatute ,3669,, that3670WDTthat it3671PPit would3672MDwould allow3673VVallow the3674DTthe plaintiff3675NNplaintiff to3676TOto just3677RBjust lay3678VVlay back3679RBback and3680CCand wait3681VVwait for3682INfor years3683NNSyear and3684CCand years3685NNSyear and3686CCand years3687NNSyear to3688TOto file3689VVfile the3690DTthe lawsuit3691NNlawsuit .3692SENT. It3693PPit 's3694VBZbe contrary3695JJcontrary to3696TOto the3697DTthe very3698JJvery essence3699NNessence of3700INof what3701WPwhat equitable3702JJequitable tolling3703VVGtoll is3704VBZbe .3705SENT. [JUSTICE ALITO]3706LOC[JUSTICE ALITO] Well3707UHWell ,3708,, Congress3709NPCongress ...3710:... Congress3711NPCongress certainly3712RBcertainly could3713MDcould have3714VHhave wanted3715VVNwant to3716TOto give3717VVgive relators3718NNSrelator ten3719CDten years3720NNSyear to3721TOto file3722VVfile suit3723NNsuit ,3724,, but3725CCbut that3726DTthat 's3727VBZbe not3728RBnot really3729RBreally the3730DTthe question3731NNquestion .3732SENT. The3733DTthe question3734NNquestion is3735VBZbe did3736VVDdo they3737PPthey want3738VVPwant relators3739NNSrelator to3740TOto file3741VVfile suit3742NNsuit between3743INbetween years3744NNSyear seven3745CDseven and3746CCand ten3747CDten in3748INin those3749DTthose cases3750NNScase where3751WRBwhere ,3752,, A3753NPA ,3754,, the3755DTthe government3756NNgovernment did3757VVDdo n't3758RBn't know3759VVknow about3760INabout the3761DTthe fraud3762NNfraud until3763INuntil year3764NNyear seven3765CDseven and3766CCand the3767DTthe government3768NNgovernment chooses3769VVZchoose not3770RBnot to3771TOto bring3772VVbring the3773DTthe case3774NNcase on3775INon its3776PP$its own3777JJown .3778SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]3779LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Correct3780JJcorrect .3781SENT. And3782CCand ...3783:... and3784CCand that3785DTthat 's3786VBZbe exactly3787RBexactly right3788RBright ,3789,, Your3790PP$your Honor3791NPHonor .3792SENT. When3793WRBwhen we3794PPwe 're3795VBPbe getting3796VVGget to3797TOto seven3798CDseven and3799CCand ten3800CDten years3801NNSyear ,3802,, the3803DTthe ...3804:... the3805DTthe memories3806NNSmemory are3807VBPbe fading3808VVGfade ,3809,, the3810DTthe government3811NNgovernment that3812WDTthat has3813VHZhave ...3814:... which3815WDTwhich has3816VHZhave this3817DTthis ,3818,, you3819PPyou know3820VVPknow ,3821,, a3822DTa special3823JJspecial responsibility3824NNresponsibility to3825TOto ensure3826VVensure justice3827NNjustice is3828VBZbe done3829VVNdo ,3830,, statutes3831NNSstatute of3832INof limitations3833NNSlimitation serve3834VVPserve important3835JJimportant purposes3836NNSpurpose .3837SENT. In3838INin Gabelli3839NPGabelli ,3840,, the3841DTthe Court3842NPCourt repeated3843VVDrepeat that3844IN/thatthat this3845DTthis ...3846:... they3847PPthey 're3848VBPbe vital3849JJvital to3850TOto the3851DTthe welfare3852NNwelfare of3853INof society3854NNsociety .3855SENT. They3856PPthey 're3857VBPbe important3858JJimportant for3859INfor justice3860NNjustice .3861SENT. [JUSTICE ALITO]3862LOC[JUSTICE ALITO] I3863PPI mean3864VVPmean ,3865,, this3866DTthis is3867VBZbe a3868DTa ...3869:... this3870DTthis is3871VBZbe an3872DTan interesting3873JJinteresting case3874NNcase because3875INbecause it3876PPit really3877RBreally does3878VVZdo create3879VVcreate a3880DTa statutory3881JJstatutory interpretation3882NNinterpretation dilemma3883NNdilemma .3884SENT. This3885DTthis is3886VBZbe a3887DTa ...3888:... a3889DTa terribly-drafted3890JJterribly-drafted statute3891NNstatute .3892SENT. It3893PPit may3894MDmay serve3895VVserve wonderful3896JJwonderful purposes3897NNSpurpose ,3898,, but3899CCbut if3900INif ...3901:... if3902INif ...3903:... if3904INif I3905PPI were3906VBDbe to3907TOto grade3908NNgrade whoever3909WPwhoever drafted3910VVDdraft it3911PPit ...3912:... anyway3913RBanyway ,3914,, I3915PPI 'll3916MDwill pass3917VVpass that3918DTthat .3919SENT. [3920SYM[ LAUGHTER3921NNlaughter ]3922SYM] [JUSTICE ALITO]3923LOC[JUSTICE ALITO] But3924CCbut you3925PPyou have3926VHPhave a3927DTa real3928JJreal ...3929:... you3930PPyou have3931VHPhave a3932DTa real3933JJreal problem3934NNproblem in3935INin trying3936VVGtry to3937TOto fit3938VVfit this3939DTthis into3940INinto the3941DTthe statutory3942JJstatutory text3943NNtext .3944SENT. The3945DTthe other3946JJother side3947NNside I3948PPI think3949VVPthink has3950VHZhave a3951DTa real3952JJreal problem3953NNproblem if3954INif they3955PPthey want3956VVPwant to3957TOto argue3958VVargue that3959IN/thatthat this3960DTthis ...3961:... their3962PP$their argument3963NNargument makes3964VVZmake that3965IN/thatthat Congress3966NPCongress really3967RBreally ...3968:... anybody3969NNanybody in3970INin Congress3971NPCongress really3972RBreally intended3973VVDintend the3974DTthe result3975NNresult that3976IN/thatthat they3977PPthey ...3978:... that3979IN/thatthat they3980PPthey 're3981VBPbe advocating3982VVGadvocate .3983SENT. So3984RBso what3985WPwhat 's3986VBZbe your3987PP$your best3988JJSgood shot3989NNshot at3990INat fitting3991VVGfit this3992DTthis into3993INinto the3994DTthe statutory3995JJstatutory text3996NNtext ?3997SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]3998LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] My3999PP$my best4000JJSgood shot4001NNshot ,4002,, Your4003PP$your Honor4004NPHonor ,4005,, is4006VBZbe that4007IN/thatthat the4008DTthe ...4009:... the4010DTthe ...4011:... the4012DTthe language4013NNlanguage "4014''" action4015NNaction under4016INunder Section4017NPSection 37304018CD@card@ "4019''" is4020VBZbe incorporated4021VVNincorporate into4022INinto Section4023NPSection 37314024CD@card@ (4025(( b4026LSb )4027)) (4028(( 24029LS2 )4030)) ,4031,, and4032CCand that4033IN/thatthat provision4034NNprovision is4035VBZbe triggered4036VVNtrigger when4037WRBwhen ...4038:... when4039WRBwhen the4040DTthe official4041NNofficial who4042WPwho is4043VBZbe charged4044VVNcharge with4045INwith responsibility4046NNresponsibility to4047TOto file4048VVfile a4049DTa timely4050JJtimely action4051NNaction had4052VHDhave knowledge4053NNknowledge and4054CCand they4055PPthey must4056MDmust do4057VVdo so4058RBso within4059INwithin three4060CDthree years4061NNSyear .4062SENT. And4063CCand that4064DTthat 's4065VBZbe what4066WPwhat the4067DTthe Fourth4068JJfourth Circuit4069NNcircuit said4070VVDsay in4071INin Sanders4072NPSanders .4073SENT. The4074DTthe ...4075:... the4076DTthe ...4077:... the4078DTthe ...4079:... it4080PPit can4081MDcan only4082RBonly mean4083VVmean that4084IN/thatthat we4085PPwe 're4086VBPbe talking4087VVGtalk about4088INabout a4089DTa case4090NNcase where4091WRBwhere ...4092:... it4093PPit cannot4094MDcan only4095RBonly mean4096VVmean .4097SENT. I4098PPI agree4099VVPagree with4100INwith you4101PPyou this4102DTthis statute4103NNstatute 's4104VBZbe a4105DTa mess4106NNmess ,4107,, but4108CCbut ...4109:... but4110CCbut a4111DTa totally4112RBtotally reasonable4113JJreasonable meaning4114NNmeaning is4115VBZbe that4116IN/thatthat it4117PPit means4118VVZmean that4119IN/thatthat that4120DTthat 's4121VBZbe the4122DTthe official4123NNofficial who4124WPwho was4125VBDbe charged4126VVNcharge with4127INwith getting4128VVGget a4129DTa timely4130JJtimely claim4131NNclaim on4132INon file4133NNfile ,4134,, timely4135JJtimely action4136NNaction under4137INunder Section4138NPSection 37304139CD@card@ .4140SENT. And4141CCand to4142TOto say4143VVsay that4144IN/thatthat it4145PPit 's4146VBZbe the4147DTthe relator4148NNrelator when4149WRBwhen ,4150,, in4151INin the4152DTthe history4153NNhistory of4154INof this4155DTthis ...4156:... this4157DTthis country4158NNcountry ,4159,, we4160PPwe 've4161VHPhave never4162RBnever had4163VHNhave a4164DTa statute4165NNstatute of4166INof limitations4167NNSlimitation discovery4168NNdiscovery rule4169NNrule triggered4170VVNtrigger by4171INby the4172DTthe knowledge4173NNknowledge of4174INof a4175DTa third4176JJthird party4177NNparty or4178CCor we4179PPwe ...4180:... and4181CCand we4182PPwe 've4183VHPhave never4184RBnever had4185VHNhave this4186DTthis Court4187NPCourt apply4188VVapply the4189DTthe discovery4190NNdiscovery rule4191NNrule to4192TOto someone4193NNsomeone seeking4194VVGseek penalties4195NNSpenalty on4196INon behalf4197NNbehalf of4198INof an4199DTan uninjured4200JJuninjured ...4201:... an4202DTan injured4203JJinjured third4204JJthird party4205NNparty .4206SENT. That4207DTthat was4208VBDbe Gabelli4209NPGabelli .4210SENT. Here4211RBhere ,4212,, the4213DTthe relator4214NNrelator is4215VBZbe in4216INin that4217DTthat role4218NNrole .4219SENT. [CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS]4220LOC[CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS] Well4221UHWell ,4222,, but4223CCbut ,4224,, I4225PPI mean4226VVPmean ,4227,, this4228RBthis ...4229:... [MR. BOUTROUS]4230LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] We4231PPwe think4232VVPthink our4233PP$our ...4234:... [CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS]4235LOC[CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS] These4236DTthese types4237NNStype of4238INof actions4239NNSaction are4240VBPbe exceptional4241JJexceptional in4242INin many4243JJmany ...4244:... many4245JJmany ways4246NNSway ,4247,, but4248CCbut the4249DTthe ...4250:... the4251DTthe concerns4252NNSconcern you4253PPyou raise4254VVPraise about4255RBabout delay4256VVdelay and4257CCand all4258RBall that4259IN/thatthat ,4260,, are4261VBPbe n't4262RBn't ...4263:... are4264VBPbe n't4265RBn't they4266PPthey at4267INat least4268JJSleast significantly4269RBsignificantly addressed4270VVNaddress with4271INwith the4272DTthe ten-year4273NNten-year statute4274NNstatute of4275INof repose4276NNrepose ?4277SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]4278LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] No4279NPNo ,4280,, Your4281PP$your Honor4282NPHonor .4283SENT. Ten4284CDTen years4285NNSyear is4286VBZbe ...4287:... is4288VBZbe a4289DTa lifetime4290NNlifetime when4291WRBwhen we4292PPwe 're4293VBPbe talking4294VVGtalk about4295INabout litigation4296NNlitigation .4297SENT. Six4298CDSix years4299NNSyear is4300VBZbe a4301DTa long4302JJlong time4303NNtime .4304SENT. And4305CCand in4306INin these4307DTthese cases4308NNScase ,4309,, the4310DTthe ...4311:... the4312DTthe Washington4313NPWashington Legal4314NPLegal Foundation4315NPFoundation brief4316JJbrief documents4317NNSdocument how4318WRBhow the4319DTthe government4320NNgovernment will4321MDwill sometimes4322RBsometimes intervene4323VVintervene ...4324:... will4325MDwill come4326VVcome in4327INin when4328WRBwhen they4329PPthey get4330VVPget the4331DTthe complaint4332NNcomplaint .4333SENT. The4334DTthe complaint4335NNcomplaint will4336MDwill remain4337VVremain under4338INunder seal4339NNseal .4340SENT. And4341CCand it4342PPit will4343MDwill seek4344VVseek extension4345NNextension ,4346,, extension4347NNextension ,4348,, extension4349NNextension .4350SENT. Here4351RBhere ,4352,, it4353PPit was4354VBDbe over4355INover a4356DTa year4357NNyear .4358SENT. So4359RBso it4360PPit can4361MDcan be4362VBbe ten4363CDten years4364NNSyear ;4365:; it4366PPit could4367MDcould be4368VBbe twelve4369NNtwelve years4370NNSyear .4371SENT. So4372RBso ten4373CDten years4374NNSyear in4375INin civil4376JJcivil litigation4377NNlitigation ,4378,, memories4379NNSmemory fade4380VVPfade ,4381,, people4382NNSpeople ...4383:... witnesses4384NNSwitness die4385VVPdie .4386SENT. They4387PPthey disappear4388VVPdisappear .4389SENT. And4390CCand so4391RBso that4392WDTthat is4393VBZbe ...4394:... the4395DTthe difference4396NNdifference between4397INbetween six4398CDsix years4399NNSyear and4400CCand ten4401CDten years4402NNSyear is4403VBZbe a4404DTa ...4405:... is4406VBZbe a4407DTa very4408RBvery long4409JJlong time4410NNtime .4411SENT. And4412CCand in4413INin going4414VVGgo back4415RBback to4416TOto ...4417:... [CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS]4418LOC[CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS] Well4419UHwell ,4420,, we4421PPwe have4422VHPhave quite4423PDTquite a4424DTa few4425JJfew cases4426NNScase that4427WDTthat started4428VVDstart ,4429,, you4430PPyou know4431VVPknow ,4432,, ten4433CDten years4434NNSyear ago4435RBago .4436SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]4437LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] But4438CCbut they4439PPthey were4440VBDbe n't4441RBn't filed4442VVNfile at4443INat the4444DTthe ten-year4445NNten-year mark4446NNmark .4447SENT. They4448PPthey were4449VBDbe filed4450VVNfile and4451CCand they4452PPthey ...4453:... they4454PPthey go4455VVPgo through4456INthrough all4457DTall sorts4458NNSsort of4459INof processes4460NNSprocess and4461CCand you4462PPyou can4463MDcan take4464VVtake discovery4465NNdiscovery and4466CCand you4467PPyou can4468MDcan find4469VVfind out4470RPout the4471DTthe information4472NNinformation and4473CCand the4474DTthe litigation4475NNlitigation has4476VHZhave commenced4477VVNcommence .4478SENT. And4479CCand ...4480:... and4481CCand ...4482:... and4483CCand back4484RBback to4485TOto Justice4486NPJustice Alito4487NPAlito 's4488POS's question4489NNquestion about4490INabout my4491PP$my best4492JJSgood argument4493NNargument ,4494,, the4495DTthe other4496JJother piece4497NNpiece of4498INof it4499PPit is4500VBZbe we4501PPwe know4502VVPknow that4503IN/thatthat Congress4504NPCongress adopted4505VVDadopt this4506DTthis tolling4507VVGtoll provision4508NNprovision directly4509RBdirectly from4510INfrom Section4511NPSection 24164512CD@card@ ,4513,, which4514WDTwhich is4515VBZbe the4516DTthe ...4517:... the4518DTthe tolling4519VVGtoll provision4520NNprovision that4521WDTthat only4522RBonly applies4523VVZapply to4524TOto actions4525NNSaction brought4526VVNbring by4527INby the4528DTthe United4529NPUnited States4530NPSStates in4531INin tort4532NNtort and4533CCand contract4534NNcontract actions4535NNSaction .4536SENT. So4537RBso that4538DTthat 's4539VBZbe another4540DTanother ,4541,, I4542PPI think4543VVPthink ,4544,, flashing4545VVGflash red4546JJred light4547NNlight that4548IN/thatthat ,4549,, at4550INat a4551DTa bare4552JJbare minimum4553NNminimum ,4554,, this4555DTthis language4556NNlanguage is4557VBZbe not4558RBnot clear4559JJclear .4560SENT. It4561PPit 's4562VBZbe as4563RBas ambiguous4564JJambiguous as4565INas the4566DTthe language4567NNlanguage was4568VBDbe viewed4569VVNview to4570TOto be4571VBbe in4572INin Graham4573NPGraham .4574SENT. And4575CCand then4576RBthen the4577DTthe question4578NNquestion is4579VBZbe ,4580,, what4581WPwhat is4582VBZbe it4583PPit most4584RBSmost likely4585JJlikely that4586IN/thatthat Congress4587NPCongress intended4588VVDintend ?4589SENT? What4590WPWhat did4591VVDdo it4592PPit ...4593:... [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]4594LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] Well4595UHWell ,4596,, the4597DTthe state4598NNstate ...4599:... the4600DTthe states4601NNSstate have4602VHPhave an4603DTan amicus4604NNamicus brief4605NNbrief that4606WDTthat says4607VVZsay no4608RBno ...4609:... no4610DTno state4611NNstate has4612VHZhave a4613DTa statute4614NNstatute of4615INof limitations4616NNSlimitation that4617WDTthat explicitly4618RBexplicitly adopts4619VVZadopt the4620DTthe rules4621NNSrule reflected4622VVNreflect in4623INin ...4624:... the4625DTthe rule4626NNrule reflected4627VVDreflect in4628INin Petitioners4629NNSpetitioner '4630POS' tortured4631JJtortured interpretation4632NNinterpretation of4633INof the4634DTthe FCA4635NNFCA ;4636:; it4637PPit is4638VBZbe Petitioners4639NNSpetitioner '4640POS' proposed4641VVNpropose rule4642NNrule ,4643,, not4644RBnot the4645DTthe FCA4646NNFCA 's4647POS's plain4648JJplain meaning4649NNmeaning ,4650,, that4651WDTthat is4652VBZbe absurd4653JJabsurd .4654SENT. So4655RBso that4656DTthat is4657VBZbe from4658INfrom 204659CD@card@ states4660NNSstate .4661SENT. Your4662PP$your response4663NNresponse to4664TOto their4665PP$their assessment4666NNassessment ?4667SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]4668LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Their4669PP$their assessment4670NNassessment really4671RBreally has4672VHZhave no4673DTno bearing4674NNbearing on4675INon what4676WPwhat Congress4677NPCongress intended4678VVDintend in4679INin 19864680CD@card@ .4681SENT. And4682CCand some4683DTsome of4684INof the4685DTthe ...4686:... [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]4687LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] But4688CCbut their4689PP$their assessment4690NNassessment does4691VVZdo have4692VHhave some4693DTsome bearing4694NNbearing on4695INon how4696WRBhow we4697PPwe think4698VVPthink about4699RBabout how4700WRBhow it4701PPit fits4702VVZfit into4703INinto the4704DTthe overall4705JJoverall context4706NNcontext of4707INof these4708DTthese kinds4709NNSkind of4710INof cases4711NNScase ,4712,, and4713CCand that4714WDTthat 's4715VHZhave been4716VBNbe really4717RBreally the4718DTthe thrust4719NNthrust of4720INof your4721PP$your argument4722NNargument ,4723,, I4724PPI think4725VVPthink .4726SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]4727LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well4728UHWell ,4729,, I4730PPI ...4731:... I4732PPI ...4733:... I4734PPI think4735VVPthink that4736IN/thatthat the4737DTthe ...4738:... that4739IN/thatthat it4740PPit does4741VVZdo not4742RBnot have4743VHhave any4744DTany bearing4745NNbearing .4746SENT. I4747PPI think4748VVPthink it4749PPit 's4750VBZbe incorrect4751JJincorrect because4752INbecause ,4753,, again4754RBagain ,4755,, I4756PPI go4757VVPgo back4758RBback to4759TOto the4760DTthe point4761NNpoint that4762IN/thatthat it4763PPit 's4764VBZbe ...4765:... it4766PPit 's4767VBZbe not4768RBnot equitable4769JJequitable ,4770,, it4771PPit 's4772VBZbe not4773RBnot fair4774JJfair ,4775,, it4776PPit 's4777VBZbe ...4778:... it4779PPit 's4780VBZbe contrary4781JJcontrary to4782TOto the4783DTthe purposes4784NNSpurpose of4785INof the4786DTthe False4787JJfalse Claims4788NPClaims Act4789NPAct ,4790,, which4791WDTwhich are4792VBPbe meant4793VVNmean to4794TOto incentivize4795VVincentivize in4796INin all4797DTall ways4798NNSway relators4799NNSrelator coming4800VVGcome forward4801RBforward .4802SENT. So4803INso I4804PPI ...4805:... we4806PPwe simply4807RBsimply disagree4808VVPdisagree with4809INwith that4810DTthat assessment4811NNassessment .4812SENT. There's4813NPThere's ...4814:... there4815EXthere 's4816VBZbe ...4817:... and4818CCand I4819PPI did4820VVDdo n't4821RBn't see4822VVsee any4823DTany real4824JJreal clear4825JJclear examples4826NNSexample in4827INin ...4828:... in4829INin ...4830:... in4831INin that4832DTthat brief4833NNbrief or4834CCor from4835INfrom the4836DTthe government4837NNgovernment that4838IN/thatthat our4839PP$our rule4840NNrule would4841MDwould cause4842VVcause any4843DTany problems4844NNSproblem whatsoever4845RBwhatsoever .4846SENT. Our4847PP$our rule4848NNrule is4849VBZbe consistent4850JJconsistent with4851INwith history4852NNhistory .4853SENT. It4854PPit 's4855VBZbe consistent4856JJconsistent with4857INwith Gabelli4858NPGabelli ,4859,, Credit4860NPCredit Suisse4861NPSuisse ,4862,, with4863INwith Graham4864NPGraham ,4865,, and4866CCand ...4867:... and4868CCand basic4869JJbasic principles4870NNSprinciple governing4871VVGgovern statutes4872NNSstatute of4873INof limitations4874NNSlimitation .4875SENT. The4876DTthe ...4877:... [JUSTICE KAGAN]4878LOC[JUSTICE KAGAN] It4879PPit seems4880VVZseem to4881TOto me4882PPme that4883IN/thatthat ,4884,, you4885PPyou know4886VVPknow ,4887,, this4888DTthis statute4889NNstatute reflects4890VVZreflect a4891DTa Congress4892NPCongress that4893WDTthat just4894RBjust decided4895VVDdecide that4896IN/thatthat it4897PPit did4898VVDdo not4899RBnot want4900VVwant the4901DTthe government4902NNgovernment 's4903POS's decision4904NNdecision whether4905INwhether to4906TOto intervene4907VVintervene to4908TOto affect4909VVaffect the4910DTthe statute4911NNstatute of4912INof limitations4913NNSlimitation .4914SENT. And4915CCand that4916WDTthat might4917MDmight be4918VBbe a4919DTa bad4920JJbad policy4921NNpolicy choice4922NNchoice ,4923,, but4924CCbut ...4925:... but4926CCbut it4927PPit 's4928VBZbe ...4929:... it4930PPit 's4931VBZbe ...4932:... you4933PPyou can4934MDcan imagine4935VVimagine reasons4936NNSreason why4937WRBwhy Congress4938NPCongress would4939MDwould have4940VHhave made4941VVNmake that4942DTthat choice4943NNchoice ,4944,, just4945RBjust to4946TOto say4947VVsay :4948:: Look4949VVlook ,4950,, we4951PPwe actually4952RBactually think4953VVPthink that4954IN/thatthat this4955DTthis is4956VBZbe a4957DTa very4958RBvery special4959JJspecial kind4960NNkind of4961INof case4962NNcase ,4963,, and4964CCand we4965PPwe want4966VVPwant to4967TOto ,4968,, you4969PPyou know4970VVPknow ,4971,, have4972VHPhave a4973DTa statute4974NNstatute of4975INof limitations4976NNSlimitation that4977WDTthat ,4978,, it4979PPit 's4980VBZbe true4981JJtrue ,4982,, it4983PPit 's4984VBZbe not4985RBnot ...4986:... it4987PPit 's4988VBZbe not4989RBnot ordinary4990JJordinary for4991INfor a4992DTa rule4993NNrule like4994INlike this4995DTthis to4996TOto be4997VBbe triggered4998VVNtrigger by4999INby a5000DTa third5001JJthird party5002NNparty ,5003,, but5004CCbut this5005DTthis is5006VBZbe a5007DTa special5008JJspecial kind5009NNkind of5010INof third5011JJthird party5012NNparty ,5013,, which5014WDTwhich is5015VBZbe going5016VVGgo to5017TOto get5018VVget most5019JJSmost of5020INof the5021DTthe money5022NNmoney from5023INfrom the5024DTthe suit5025NNsuit .5026SENT. And5027CCand we5028PPwe actually5029RBactually think5030VVPthink it5031PPit 's5032VBZbe just5033RBjust easier5034JJReasy ,5035,, simpler5036JJRsimple ,5037,, better5038JJRgood for5039INfor any5040DTany number5041NNnumber of5042INof reasons5043NNSreason ,5044,, that5045DTthat nothing5046NNnothing turn5047NNturn on5048INon whether5049INwhether the5050DTthe government5051NNgovernment intervenes5052VVZintervene or5053CCor not5054RBnot .5055SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]5056LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Theoretically5057RBtheoretically ,5058,, Congress5059NPCongress could5060MDcould have5061VHhave thought5062VVNthink through5063RBthrough that5064IN/thatthat carefully5065RBcarefully ,5066,, Your5067PP$your Honor5068NPHonor ,5069,, and5070CCand gone5071VVNgo through5072INthrough that5073DTthat analysis5074NNanalysis ,5075,, but5076CCbut there5077EXthere 's5078VBZbe no5079DTno indication5080NNindication that5081IN/thatthat it5082PPit did5083VVDdo .5084SENT. [JUSTICE KAGAN]5085LOC[JUSTICE KAGAN] Well5086UHWell ,5087,, the5088DTthe indication5089NNindication is5090VBZbe that5091IN/thatthat they5092PPthey wrote5093VVDwrite a5094DTa provision5095NNprovision where5096WRBwhere nothing5097NNnothing turns5098VVZturn on5099INon intervention5100NNintervention .5101SENT. [MR. BOUTROUS]5102LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well5103UHWell ,5104,, Your5105PP$your Honor5106NPHonor ,5107,, I5108PPI would5109MDwould respectfully5110RBrespectfully submit5111VVsubmit that5112IN/thatthat it5113PPit 's5114VBZbe ambiguous5115JJambiguous .5116SENT. It5117PPit 's5118VBZbe not5119RBnot clear5120JJclear ,5121,, because5122INbecause the5123DTthe Congress5124NPCongress used5125VVDuse the5126DTthe language5127NNlanguage "5128''" action5129NNaction under5130INunder Section5131NPSection 37305132CD@card@ "5133``" imprecisely5134RBimprecisely ...5135:... [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]5136LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] What5137WPWhat ...5138:... [MR. BOUTROUS]5139LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] ...5140:... to5141TOto sometimes5142RBsometimes refer5143VVrefer to5144TOto subsets5145NNSsubset of5146INof ...5147:... of5148INof those5149DTthose claims5150NNSclaim .5151SENT. And5152CCand ,5153,, here5154RBhere ,5155,, it5156PPit 's5157VBZbe the5158DTthe actions5159NNSaction by5160INby the5161DTthe only5162JJonly party5163NNparty mentioned5164VVNmention in5165INin the5166DTthe provision5167NNprovision .5168SENT. [JUSTICE ALITO]5169LOC[JUSTICE ALITO] Well5170UHWell ,5171,, why5172WRBwhy do5173VVPdo you5174PPyou ...5175:... why5176WRBwhy do5177VVPdo you5178PPyou argue5179VVPargue that5180IN/thatthat (5181(( b5182LSb )5183)) (5184(( 25185LS2 )5186)) applies5187VVZapply when5188WRBwhen the5189DTthe government5190NNgovernment intervenes5191VVZintervene ?5192SENT? Why5193WRBwhy do5194VVPdo n't5195RBn't you5196PPyou just5197RBjust argue5198VVPargue that5199IN/thatthat (5200(( b5201LSb )5202)) (5203(( 25204LS2 )5205)) applies5206VVZapply only5207RBonly when5208WRBwhen the5209DTthe government5210NNgovernment itself5211PPitself brings5212VVZbring suit5213NNsuit ?5214SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]5215LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] That5216DTthat ...5217:... that5218WDTthat would5219MDwould be5220VBbe another5221DTanother way5222NNway to5223TOto look5224VVlook at5225INat it5226PPit ,5227,, Your5228PP$your Honor5229NPHonor .5230SENT. I5231PPI think5232VVPthink that5233IN/thatthat the5234DTthe government5235NNgovernment ultimately5236RBultimately files5237VVZfile a5238DTa complaint5239NNcomplaint in5240INin intervention5241NNintervention ,5242,, if5243INif it5244PPit intervenes5245VVZintervene ,5246,, and5247CCand then5248RBthen that5249WDTthat relate5250VVPrelate back5251RBback ...5252:... relates5253VVZrelate back5254RBback .5255SENT. So5256RBso I5257PPI think5258VVPthink it5259PPit ...5260:... it5261PPit ...5262:... it5263PPit gets5264VVZget us5265PPus ,5266,, you5267PPyou know5268VVPknow ,5269,, to5270TOto the5271DTthe same5272JJsame place5273NNplace ,5274,, but5275CCbut I5276PPI ...5277:... I5278PPI do5279VVPdo think5280VVthink that5281IN/thatthat it5282PPit 's5283VBZbe ...5284:... it5285PPit 's5286VBZbe really5287RBreally over-reading5288VVGover-reading Graham5289NPGraham to5290TOto suggest5291VVsuggest that5292IN/thatthat this5293DTthis has5294VHZhave been5295VBNbe decided5296VVNdecide ,5297,, that5298IN/thatthat actions5299NNSaction under5300INunder Section5301NPSection 37305302CD@card@ necessarily5303RBnecessarily covers5304VVZcover (5305(( b5306LSb )5307)) (5308(( 25309LS2 )5310)) .5311SENT. The5312DTthe Court5313NPCourt ...5314:... the5315DTthe government5316NNgovernment repeatedly5317RBrepeatedly cites5318VVZcite and5319CCand quotes5320VVZquote Graham5321NPGraham ,5322,, suggesting5323VVGsuggest that5324IN/thatthat the5325DTthe Court5326NPCourt held5327VVDhold that5328IN/thatthat ,5329,, but5330CCbut it5331PPit leaves5332VVZleave out5333RPout the5334DTthe fact5335NNfact that5336IN/thatthat the5337DTthe Court5338NPCourt very5339RBvery carefully5340RBcarefully said5341VVDsay the5342DTthe text5343NNtext of5344INof Section5345NPSection 37315346CD@card@ (5347(( b5348LSb )5349)) (5350(( 15351LS1 )5352)) means5353VVZmean all5354DTall actions5355NNSaction .5356SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]5357LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] Where5358WRBwhere ...5359:... where5360WRBwhere is5361VBZbe the5362DTthe ambiguity5363NNambiguity ?5364SENT? I5365PPI 'm5366VBPbe not5367RBnot seeing5368VVGsee ambiguity5369NNambiguity .5370SENT. Where5371WRBwhere exactly5372RBexactly is5373VBZbe the5374DTthe phrase5375NNphrase that5376IN/thatthat you5377PPyou think5378VVPthink is5379VBZbe ambiguous5380JJambiguous ?5381SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]5382LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] Well5383UHwell ,5384,, it5385PPit 's5386VBZbe ...5387:... it5388PPit 's5389VBZbe a5390DTa combination5391NNcombination of5392INof things5393NNSthing ,5394,, Your5395PP$your Honor5396NPHonor .5397SENT. It's5398NPIt's ,5399,, as5400INas Graham5401NPGraham said5402VVDsay ,5403,, Congress5404NPCongress used5405VVDuse that5406DTthat language5407NNlanguage ,5408,, "5409''" action5410NNaction under5411INunder Section5412NPSection 37305413CD@card@ ,5414,, "5415``" imprecisely5416RBimprecisely to5417TOto refer5418VVrefer to5419TOto different5420JJdifferent groupings5421NNSgrouping of5422INof cases5423NNScase .5424SENT. And5425CCand when5426WRBwhen we5427PPwe ...5428:... when5429WRBwhen we5430PPwe look5431VVPlook at5432INat that5433DTthat language5434NNlanguage as5435INas incorporated5436VVNincorporate into5437INinto (5438(( b5439LSb )5440)) (5441(( 25442LS2 )5443)) ,5444,, and5445CCand the5446DTthe only5447JJonly party5448NNparty referenced5449VVDreference there5450EXthere is5451VBZbe the5452DTthe United5453NPUnited States5454NPSStates ,5455,, and5456CCand it5457PPit 's5458VBZbe triggered5459VVNtrigger off5460INoff the5461DTthe official5462NNofficial of5463INof the5464DTthe United5465NPUnited States5466NPSStates charged5467VVDcharge with5468INwith responsibility5469NNresponsibility to5470TOto act5471VVact ,5472,, we5473PPwe say5474VVPsay the5475DTthe better5476JJRgood reading5477NNreading is5478VBZbe that5479IN/thatthat that5480WDTthat means5481VVZmean it5482PPit 's5483VBZbe an5484DTan action5485NNaction where5486WRBwhere the5487DTthe United5488NPUnited States5489NPSStates brought5490VVDbring the5491DTthe action5492NNaction or5493CCor intervened5494VVDintervene in5495INin the5496DTthe action5497NNaction .5498SENT. The5499DTthe government5500NNgovernment is5501VBZbe reading5502VVGread in5503INin the5504DTthe notion5505NNnotion that5506IN/thatthat the5507DTthe ...5508:... that5509IN/thatthat the5510DTthe decision5511NNdecision to5512TOto act5513NNact or5514CCor responsibility5515NNresponsibility to5516TOto act5517VVact includes5518VVZinclude the5519DTthe ...5520:... the5521DTthe decision5522NNdecision not5523RBnot to5524TOto act5525VVact ,5526,, which5527WDTwhich we5528PPwe think5529VVPthink is5530VBZbe not5531RBnot clear5532JJclear from5533INfrom the5534DTthe text5535NNtext .5536SENT. So5537RBso it5538PPit 's5539VBZbe ambiguous5540JJambiguous .5541SENT. [JUSTICE KAVANAUGH]5542LOC[JUSTICE KAVANAUGH] If5543INif it5544PPit 's5545VBZbe ...5546:... if5547INif it5548PPit 's5549VBZbe not5550RBnot ambiguous5551JJambiguous ,5552,, then5553RBthen I5554PPI do5555VVPdo n't5556RBn't think5557VVthink there5558EXthere is5559VBZbe a5560DTa statutory5561JJstatutory interpretation5562NNinterpretation canon5563NNcanon any5564DTany longer5565JJRlong that5566DTthat says5567VVZsay we5568PPwe can5569MDcan conclude5570VVconclude that5571IN/thatthat Congress5572NPCongress did5573VVDdo n't5574RBn't mean5575VVmean what5576WPwhat it5577PPit said5578VVDsay .5579SENT. The5580DTthe only5581JJonly avenues5582NNSavenue are5583VBPbe the5584DTthe absurdity5585NNabsurdity canon5586NNcanon or5587CCor maybe5588RBmaybe scrivener5589NNscrivener 's5590POS's error5591NNerror ,5592,, but5593CCbut you5594PPyou 're5595VBPbe not5596RBnot arguing5597VVGargue any5598DTany of5599INof those5600DTthose .5601SENT. So5602RBso ,5603,, if5604INif we5605PPwe conclude5606VVPconclude that5607IN/thatthat it5608PPit 's5609VBZbe not5610RBnot ambiguous5611JJambiguous ,5612,, is5613VBZbe there5614RBthere anything5615NNanything left5616VVDleave ?5617SENT? [MR. BOUTROUS]5618LOC[MR. BOUTROUS] There5619EXthere is5620VBZbe ,5621,, Your5622PP$your Honor5623NPHonor .5624SENT. The5625DTthe Court5626NPCourt 's5627POS's decision5628NNdecision in5629INin Barnhart5630NPBarnhart ,5631,, which5632WDTwhich Respondents5633NNSrespondent cite5634VVPcite in5635INin their5636PP$their brief5637NNbrief at5638INat page5639NNpage 205640CD@card@ ,5641,, says5642VVZsay that5643IN/thatthat if5644INif the5645DTthe text5646NNtext is5647VBZbe ...5648:... if5649INif the5650DTthe ...5651:... the5652DTthe inquiry5653NNinquiry ceases5654VVZcease if5655INif the5656DTthe statutory5657JJstatutory language5658NNlanguage is5659VBZbe unambiguous5660JJunambiguous and5661CCand the5662DTthe statutory5663JJstatutory scheme5664NNscheme is5665VBZbe coherent5666JJcoherent and5667CCand consistent5668JJconsistent .5669SENT. This5670DTthis statutory5671JJstatutory scheme5672NNscheme is5673VBZbe neither5674RBneither of5675INof those5676DTthose .5677SENT. And5678CCand I5679PPI 'll5680MDwill reserve5681VVreserve the5682DTthe rest5683NNrest of5684INof my5685PP$my time5686NNtime .5687SENT. Thank5688VVthank you5689PPyou ,5690,, Your5691PP$your Honor5692NPHonor .5693SENT. [CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS]5694LOC[CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS] Thank5695VVthank you5696PPyou ,5697,, counsel5698NNcounsel .5699SENT. Mr5700NPMr .5701SENT. Mayfield5702NPMayfield .5703SENT.