[1] Hanson sued under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) for discrimination based on a perceived disability.

[2][4] Dayton's office filed a motion to have the case dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,[3] claiming immunity to the suit under the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution.

[2][3][4] The Speech or Debate Clause, grounded in the separation of powers doctrine,[8] prohibits judicial inquiry into the "legislative acts" of members of Congress.

[8] In an unreported decision and without oral argument,[6] the district court denied Dayton's office's motion[2][3][6] and held that the Speech or Debate Clause does not bar Hanson's claims.

[1] Representatives Barney Frank and Christopher Shays also disagreed with the lawsuit, saying in a legal brief that Manning's arguments are "wrong and misunderstand both constitutional doctrine and the CAA.

[3] Justice John Paul Stevens authored the opinion of the 8-0 court, which held that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the case and declined to grant certiorari.