{"argument_date":"2008-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-12-08T00:00:00Z","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/2008/07-512.pdf","paragraphs":["Aaron Panner argued for Pacific Bell. He cited Trinko and Brooke. He urged reversal of the Ninth Circuit decision.","Ms. Maynard argued for LinkLine. She warned of two possible outcomes. She emphasized the margin-based price squeeze theory.","Justice Souter questioned the duty to deal. He asked about regulatory participation. He distinguished this case from future cases.","Justice Breyer asked about regulation. He referenced Judge Hand's opinion. He explored the absence of regulation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-27"}]}],"caption":"Pacific Bell Telephone Co. v. linkLine Communications, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.209226Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Pacific Bell seeks reversal of a Ninth Circuit judgment. LinkLine seeks vacatur and remand. The dispute centers on antitrust liability standards.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-12-08T00:00:00Z","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/07-512.html","primary_docket":"07-512","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:56:13.105097Z","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":["Pacific Bell Telephone Company and LinkLine Communications dispute antitrust liability. Pacific Bell argues the lower court erred. LinkLine argues the lower court acted correctly. The Court must resolve the legal standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Pacific Bell wants the Supreme Court to reverse the Ninth Circuit decision.","LinkLine wants the Supreme Court to vacate the decision and remand the case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Pacific Bell argues unilateral pricing decisions do not create antitrust liability.","LinkLine argues a margin-based price squeeze supports an antitrust claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if a duty to deal supports a price squeeze theory.","Justice Breyer asked if regulation is required for a price squeeze claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-27"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines antitrust liability for vertically integrated firms. It clarifies the legal standard for price squeeze claims. It impacts competition in telecommunications markets."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"}]},{"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 41-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-27"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-512-pacific-bell-telephone-co-v-linkline-communications-inc","term":"2008","title":"Does a margin-based price squeeze prove antitrust liability?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 21-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 21-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-512.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 37-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}