Keathley v. Buddy Ayers Construction, Inc. — SCOTUS (argued March 24, 2026)
The Supreme Court considers when judicial estoppel may block a lawsuit left out of bankruptcy filings. Thomas Keathley did not list a personal injury claim while his Chapter 13 case was pending, and the Fifth Circuit barred him from pursuing it. The Court later vacated unanimously, holding that courts must consider all the circumstances before deciding whether an omission was inadvertent or mistaken.
Keathley v. Buddy Ayers Construction, Inc. (No. 25-6) — Supreme Court of the United States, argued March 24, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/media/audio/mp3files/25-6.mp3
Argument transcript — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/25-6_6jfl.pdf
Case docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-6.html
Brief for Thomas Keathley:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-6/387284/20251212162114343_SCT%20No.%2025-6%20Keathley%20Merits%20Brief.pdf
Brief for the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-6/389995/20251219135643827_Keathley_brief_final.pdf
Brief for Buddy Ayers Construction:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-6/392834/20260127173104149_25-6%20-%20Keathley%20v.%20Buddy%20Ayers%20-%20Brief%20for%20Respondent.pdf
Decision — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-6_d1o2.pdf
Gregory G. Garre — Latham & Watkins:https://www.lw.com/people/gregory-garre
William M. Jay — Goodwin:https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en/people/j/jay-william
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:36Gregory G. Garre
- 32:46Frederick Liu
- 47:29William M. Jay