Office of Personnel Management v. Richmond
Overview
Overview
Held that equitable estoppel cannot be applied against the government to compel payment of money from the Treasury contrary to a statutory appropriation. The Appropriations Clause bars judge-made equitable remedies that override Congress's spending decisions.
The Conclusion
**Decided June 11, 1990, by a 7-2 vote, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy.** The Court held that the Appropriations Clause bars federal courts from using equitable estoppel to order payment from the Treasury that Congress has not authorized, even where a government employee's erroneous advice caused the claimant's loss. Justice Marshall, joined by Justice Brennan, dissented; Justices White and Stevens concurred in the judgment on separate grounds.
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