United States v. Ward

A federal statute required anyone who spilled oil in navigable waters to report the spill, granted immunity from criminal prosecution for the required report, but allowed the government to impose a "civil penalty" fine. Ward (defendant) argued that compelled reporting combined with the threat of a civil fine violated his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. The district court ruled for the government, the court of appeals reversed, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.