Yearsley Doctrine

Definition

A legal protection for government contractors derived from the 1940 Supreme Court case Yearsley v. W.A. Ross Construction Co. It shields contractors from liability when two conditions are met: the contractor's work was within Congress's constitutional authority, and the contractor complied with all federal directions. Whether this is an 'immunity from suit' or a 'defense to liability' is the central dispute in this case.

Examples

• •GEO claims it satisfies Yearsley because it operated the Voluntary Work Program exactly as ICE directed under a fixed-price government contract.

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