{"argument_date":"2006-10-31T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-10-31T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","paragraphs":["Andrew Frey argued the Oregon courts failed to apply State Farm.","Mr. Peck argued the Oregon courts properly treated the instruction as an enigma.","questions_in_argument"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"}]}],"caption":"Philip Morris USA v. Williams","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.207957Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Philip Morris seeks to remove a jury award for harm to nonparties. Williams defends the award as proper.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-10-31T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-1256.html","primary_docket":"05-1256","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:06:07.125403Z","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":["Philip Morris USA v. Williams"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Philip Morris wants the Court to remove the award for nonparty harm.","Williams wants the Court to keep the award for nonparty harm."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Philip Morris argues the Oregon courts failed to apply State Farm correctly.","Williams argues the Oregon courts properly treated the proposed instruction as an enigma."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked how to handle a wrong legal view focused by a denied instruction.","Justice Scalia asked if the Court could remand for official error."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of punitive damages. It determines whether juries can punish for harm to nonparties. It shapes future tort litigation outcomes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"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 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-1256-philip-morris-usa-v-williams","term":"2006","title":"Can a jury award damages for harm to nonparties?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1256.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}