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Carol V. Clendening, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Gary J. Clendening v. United States

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 20-1878 · judgment November 30, 2021


Certiorari denied · November 7, 2022
Pre-decision estimate: 6% cert probability (95% interval 4%–9%)

Before the decision, modestly above the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for counsel who has won certiorari before, a dissent in the court below (flagged in the petition), and a Fourth Circuit decision below.

Question presented

The questions presented are:

  1. Does Feres v. United States, 340 U.S. 135 (1950) apply to an unwitting Judge Advocate General Officer’s toxic exposure not related to his service.

  2. Whether the Federal Tort Claims Act’s discretionary function exception 28 U.S.C 2680(a) applies to the military’s failure to notify and warn Camp Lejeune residents of their exposure to toxins pursuant to standing law.

Counsel of record

For petitioner
E. Joshua Rosenkranz
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

For respondent
Elizabeth B. Prelogar
Solicitor General

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 5 conferences

Linked docket
21A446

Argument & decision

Decided November 7, 2022.

Proceedings

  1. Nov 07 2022
    Petition DENIED. Justice Thomas, dissenting from denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion)
  2. Oct 31 2022
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/4/2022.
  3. Oct 24 2022
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/28/2022.
  4. Oct 24 2022
    Rescheduled.
  5. Oct 12 2022
    Rescheduled.
  6. Oct 11 2022
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/14/2022.
  7. Oct 05 2022
    Rescheduled.
  8. Sep 21 2022
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/7/2022.
  9. Sep 19 2022
    Reply of petitioner Carol V. Clendening filed.
  10. Sep 07 2022
    Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
  11. Aug 05 2022
    Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including September 7, 2022.
  12. Aug 04 2022
    Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 8, 2022 to September 7, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
  13. Jun 29 2022
    Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including August 8, 2022.
  14. Jun 27 2022
    Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 8, 2022 to August 8, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
  15. Jun 08 2022
    Response Requested. (Due July 8, 2022)
  16. May 31 2022
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/16/2022.
  17. May 24 2022
    Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
  18. Apr 29 2022
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due June 2, 2022)
  19. Feb 23 2022
    Application (21A446) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until April 29, 2022.
  20. Feb 18 2022
    Application (21A446) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from February 28, 2022 to April 29, 2022, submitted to The Chief Justice.