{"argument_date":"2013-03-19T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-03-19T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","paragraphs":["Mutual Pharmaceutical argues federal law requires identical ingredients and warnings.","Bartlett argues New Hampshire law imposes a hybrid design-defect standard.","Justice Sotomayor questioned whether FDA approval creates an absolute liability shield.","Justice Kagan asked how the argument applies to brand-named drugs."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-45"}]}],"caption":"Mutual Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bartlett","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.472355Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal law blocks state design-defect claims against generic drug manufacturers.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-03-19T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-142.html","primary_docket":"12-142","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:04:06.452054Z","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 the scope of federal preemption for generic drugs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 19, 2013."],"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/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Mutual Pharmaceutical seeks dismissal of the state design-defect claim.","Bartlett seeks to maintain the state design-defect claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Mutual Pharmaceutical argues federal law preempts state design-defect claims.","Bartlett argues state law imposes a distinct design-defect duty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if FDA approval bars all tort claims.","Justice Kagan asked about the scope of the argument for brand drugs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-45"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between federal drug regulation and state tort law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"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 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-45"}]}],"slug":"2012-12-142-mutual-pharmaceutical-co-v-bartlett","term":"2012","title":"Can generic drug makers face design-defect liability despite FDA approval?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 31-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-142_fchk.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}