John R. Sand & Gravel Co. v. United States, 552 U.S. 130 (2008)

In the case of John R. Sand & Gravel Co. v. United States, the underlying dispute arose when John R. Sand & Gravel Company filed a lawsuit in May 2002 in the Court of Federal Claims. The company held a 50-year mining lease on certain land and claimed that actions taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as the construction and relocation of fences, constituted an unconstitutional taking of its leasehold rights. Initially, the Government contended that the claims were untimely based on a statute of limitations that requires claims to be filed within six years after they accrue. However, the Government later acknowledged that some of the claims were indeed timely. The procedural history of the case involved an appeal by John R. Sand & Gravel Company after the Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of the Government on the merits of the case. The company appealed this decision to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where the Government's brief did not address the statute of limitations issue. Nonetheless, an amicus brief brought the matter to the court's attention, prompting the court to consider the timeliness of the claims. Ultimately, the Federal Circuit ruled that the action was untimely, leading to the Supreme Court's agreement to review whether the appellate court was correct in addressing the limitations issue despite the Government's waiver. The relevant background context includes the special statute of limitations governing the Court of Federal Claims, which is designed to ensure timely resolution of claims against the government. This statute emphasizes the need for courts to consider the timeliness of claims, even when the defendant has not raised the issue, reflecting a broader goal of judicial efficiency and the administration of claims against the government. The Supreme Court's decision would clarify the obligations of courts regarding the timeliness of claims in such contexts.

Whether a court must raise on its own the timeliness of a lawsuit filed in the Court of Federal Claims, despite the Government’s waiver of the issue.

The judgment is reversed.