{"argument_date":"2008-11-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-11-03T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","paragraphs":["Waxman argued the conflict between state and federal law is stark.","Kneedler argued state duties conflict with the FDA safety determination.","Frederick cited specific regulations to support the preemption argument.","Ginsburg questioned how benefits outweigh the risk of amputation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 5-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 5-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]}],"caption":"Wyeth v. Levine","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.945915Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Wyeth argues federal law blocks state tort claims. Levine argues state law allows injury suits.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-11-03T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-1249.html","primary_docket":"06-1249","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T03:16:27.884102Z","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":["Wyeth seeks dismissal of state tort claims. Levine seeks a damages award for injury."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Wyeth wants the state tort claim dismissed.","Levine wants the state tort claim to proceed."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Wyeth argues federal approval preempts state duties.","Levine argues state duties do not conflict with federal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Roberts asked why the Drug Act lacks express preemption.","Souter asked if the FDA required the specific label text."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 5-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 5-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the balance between federal drug regulation and state tort law. It determines whether injured patients can sue manufacturers under state law. It shapes the scope of federal preemption in product liability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"}]},{"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 10, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 5-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 5-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]}],"slug":"2008-06-1249-wyeth-v-levine","term":"2008","title":"Can state tort laws override federal drug safety approvals?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/06-1249.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}