{"argument_date":"2005-01-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-01-10T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue farmers historically sued for crop damage.","the opposing side argues federal law mandates uniform pesticide labels.","the opposing side claims jury verdicts would destroy label uniformity.","the sides that brought the case assert federal law does not bar state claims."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-35"}]}],"caption":"Bates v. Dow Agrosciences LLC","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.671597Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Farmers seek to sue for crop damage. Dow argues federal law blocks these claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-01-10T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-388.html","primary_docket":"03-388","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:04:53.104342Z","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":["This case tests if federal pesticide rules block state law suits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want to sue for crop damage caused by pesticides.","the opposing side wants to dismiss the suit based on federal preemption."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal law does not block state law claims.","the opposing side argues federal law requires uniform labels and blocks suits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if warning adequacy matters for liability.","Justice Breyer asked if the outcome depends on specific facts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["Farmers face financial risk from pesticide failures. Manufacturers face liability for product defects. Federal uniformity conflicts with state consumer protections."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"}]},{"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 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-35"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-388-bates-v-dow-agrosciences-llc","term":"2004","title":"Can farmers sue for crop damage despite federal pesticide labels?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-388.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 11-23"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}