{"argument_date":"2003-02-26T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2003-02-26T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","paragraphs":["Seth Waxman argued for Dow Chemical. He cited a 1984 final judgment. He claimed it binds the class.","Isaac Smoger argued for Stephenson. He stated Stephenson had no 1984 injury. He claimed state law allows late claims.","chief_justice_rehnquist_closed_the_hearing."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 17-19"}]}],"caption":"Dow Chemical Co. v. Stephenson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.349644Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Dow Chemical argues a 1984 class judgment blocks new cancer suits. Stephenson argues state law allows late claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2003-02-26T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/02-271.html","primary_docket":"02-271","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:28:16.539424Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["Dow Chemical seeks to dismiss Stephenson's cancer lawsuit. It claims a 1984 class action already resolved these issues. Stephenson wants to proceed with his 1999 cancer claim. He argues state law permits late filing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 26, 2003."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Dow Chemical wants the court to dismiss the lawsuit. It seeks to enforce the 1984 class judgment.","Stephenson wants the court to allow his lawsuit. He seeks to pursue his 1999 cancer claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Dow Chemical argues a final judgment binds the class. It claims this judgment includes Stephenson.","Stephenson argues he had no injury in 1984. He claims state law allows his 1999 filing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case is submitted."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 17-19"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when a class action ends. It determines if late injuries can sue. It affects cancer patients and chemical companies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 17-19"}]}],"slug":"2002-02-271-dow-chemical-co-v-stephenson","term":"2002","title":"Does a prior class action bar later cancer claims?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-271.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}