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United States v. Shearer

473 U.S. 52 · Decided June 27, 1985 · Supreme Court of the United States

Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.

At a glance

United States v. Shearer was decided on June 27, 1985 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Governmental liability” in the Economic Activity area.

Read the opinion

Case details

Citations
473 U.S. 52 · 105 S. Ct. 3039 · 87 L. Ed. 2d 38 · 1985 U.S. LEXIS 82
Docket number
84-194
Decided
June 27, 1985
Argued
February 25, 1985
Court era
Burger Court
Decision type
Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
Disposition
Reversed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
Vote
8–0 (unanimous)
Majority opinion
Warren E. Burger
Opinion assigned by
Warren E. Burger
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Legal provision
Federal Tort Claims Act or Alien Tort Statute
Type of law
Federal statute
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

JusticeVoteSeparate writing
Justice William J. Brennan Jr.Special concurrenceWrote an opinion
Justice Byron R. WhiteMajority
Justice Thurgood MarshallSpecial concurrenceWrote an opinion
Chief Justice Warren E. BurgerMajorityWrote an opinion
Justice Harry A. BlackmunSpecial concurrence
Justice William H. RehnquistMajority
Justice John Paul StevensSpecial concurrence
Justice Sandra Day O'ConnorMajority

Did not participate: Lewis F. Powell Jr..

Full case caption

United States v. Shearer, Individually and as Administratrix for the Estate of Shearer

SCDB identifiers: case 1984-147, docket 1984-147-01.

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Cases on the same legal provision: Federal Tort Claims Act or Alien Tort Statute

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error