Louis W. Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services v. Elizabeth Stroop, et al.

Decided June 14, 1990. William Hubbs Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 89-535 · 496 U.S. 478 (1990) · Cited 408 times

Holding

Title II "child's insurance benefits" do not constitute "child support" within the meaning of 602(a)(8)(A)(vi).

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 5–4.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Bowen v. Gilliard · 483 U.S. 587 (1987)
• Erlenbaugh v. United States · 409 U.S. 239 (1972)
• Atlantic Cleaners & Dyers, Inc. v. United States · 286 U.S. 427 (1932)
• National Labor Relations Board v. United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 23 · 484 U.S. 112 (1987)
• Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. · 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
• Helvering v. Stockholms Enskilda Bank · 293 U.S. 84 (1934)
• Sullivan v. Everhart · 494 U.S. 83 (1990)
• Russello v. United States · 464 U.S. 16 (1983)
• K Mart Corp. v. Cartier, Inc. · 486 U.S. 281 (1988)
• District of Columbia v. Carter · 409 U.S. 418 (1973)
• Oscar Mayer & Co. v. Evans · 441 U.S. 750 (1979)
• Mathews v. Lucas · 427 U.S. 495 (1976)
• Mathews v. De Castro · 429 U.S. 181 (1976)
• Sorenson v. Secretary of the Treasury · 475 U.S. 851 (1986)
• Jimenez v. Weinberger · 417 U.S. 628 (1974)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• United States v. Davis · 588 U.S. 445 (2019)
• Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust · 579 U.S. 115 (2016)
• Federal Communications Commission v. Beach Communications, Inc. · 508 U.S. 307 (1993)
• Heller v. Doe Ex Rel. Doe · 509 U.S. 312 (1993)
• Desert Palace, Inc. v. Costa · 539 U.S. 90 (2003)
• Dewsnup v. Timm · 502 U.S. 410 (1992)
• Brooke Group Ltd. v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. · 509 U.S. 209 (1993)
• Estate of Cowart v. Nicklos Drilling Co. · 505 U.S. 469 (1992)
• Barnhill v. Johnson · 503 U.S. 393 (1992)
• IBP, Inc. v. Alvarez · 546 U.S. 21 (2005)
• United States Department of Treasury v. Fabe · 508 U.S. 491 (1993)
• Commissioner v. Lundy · 516 U.S. 235 (1996)
• Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast, Inc. v. United Distribution Cos. · 498 U.S. 211 (1991)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1990). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).