No. 25-535

Hickory Heights Health and Rehab, LLC, et al. v. Yashika Watson, as Guardian of the Person and Estate of Zeola Ellis, III

Lower Court: Arkansas
Docketed: 2025-11-03
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (5) Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-law arbitration-agreements federal-funding medicare-medicaid spending-clause statutory-interpretation
Key Terms:
Environmental Arbitration SocialSecurity Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether legislation enacted pursuant to the spending power makes private conduct illegal absent a clear statement that Congress intended to do more than place conditions on the receipt of federal funds.

2. If so, whether CMS may make the use of arbitration agreements by recipients of federal Medicare and Medicaid funds illegal, notwithstanding the Federal Arbitration Act.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether legislation enacted pursuant to the Spending Clause can make private conduct illegal absent a clear congressional intent beyond federal funding conditions

Docket Entries

2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-18
Reply of petitioners Hickory Heights Health and Rehab, LLC, et al. filed.
2025-12-18
Reply of Hickory Heights Health and Rehab, LLC, et al. submitted.
2025-12-03
Amicus brief of American Health Care Association and the Alabama Nursing Home Association submitted.
2025-12-03
Brief amici curiae of American Health Care Association, et al. filed.
2025-12-03
Brief amici curiae of South Carolina, et al. filed.
2025-12-03
Brief of respondent Yashika Watson in opposition filed.
2025-12-03
Amicus brief of State of South Carolina and 19 Other States submitted.
2025-12-03
Brief of Yashika Watson in opposition submitted.
2025-12-02
Brief amicus curiae of The Arkansas Health Care Association filed.
2025-12-02
Amicus brief of The Arkansas Health Care Association submitted.
2025-12-02
Brief amicus curiae of Arkansas Health Care Association filed.
2025-12-01
Brief amicus curiae of National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, Inc. filed.
2025-12-01
Amicus brief of National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, Inc. submitted.
2025-10-31
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 3, 2025)
2025-09-02
Response to application from respondent received.
2025-08-28
Application (25A219) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until November 2, 2025.
2025-08-22
Application (25A219) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 3, 2025 to November 2, 2025, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

American Health Care Association and the Alabama Nursing Home Association
Devin Clarke DoliveBurr & Forman LLP, Amicus
Hickory Heights Health and Rehab, LLC, et al.
Andrew Timothy TuttArnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, Petitioner
National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, Inc.
Aram Avedis GavoorThe George Washington University Law School, Amicus
State of South Carolina and 19 Other States
Joseph David SpateSouth Carolina Attorney General's Office, Amicus
The Arkansas Health Care Association
Gary D. Marts Jr.Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP, Amicus
Yashika Watson
R. Trent McCotterBoyden Gray PLLC, Respondent
Michael Blandford BuschbacherBoyden Gray PLLC, Respondent