{"argument_date":"2010-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-10-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","paragraphs":["The employee's advocate argued oral reports deserve protection. He emphasized the practical reality of workplace reporting.","The employer's advocate argued the law requires formal procedures. He stressed the need for clear documentation.","The government advocate noted many statutes share similar provisions. He highlighted the broader legal landscape."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-3"}]}],"caption":"Kasten v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.942883Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the Fair Labor Standards Act protects employees who report violations verbally rather than in writing.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-10-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/09-834.html","primary_docket":"09-834","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:01:56.486478Z","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":["The case tests the scope of the Fair Labor Standards Act. It asks if the statute covers informal verbal reports. The lower court ruled against the employee. The employee seeks reversal of that judgment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The employee wants the court to reverse the lower court judgment. He seeks protection for his oral report.","The employer wants the court to affirm the lower court judgment. It seeks to limit protection to written filings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The employee argues oral reports constitute protected activity. He claims the statute does not require writing.","The employer argues the statute requires formal filings. It claims oral statements lack legal weight."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if a casual remark to a government employee counts as a complaint.","Justice Alito asked what filing a complaint specifically means in this context."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-3"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the threshold for employee protection. It determines whether informal reports trigger legal safeguards. The outcome shapes workplace reporting standards nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-3"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-834-kasten-v-saint-gobain-performance-plastics-corp","term":"2010","title":"Does an oral complaint trigger anti-retaliation protections?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 33-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-834.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}