October Term 2000 · Docket 98-1768
Does federal law block state fraud claims against medical device makers?
Plaintiffs seek state damages for device fraud. Buckman argues federal law preempts these claims.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Buckman argues federal law exclusively handles FDA fraud.
Plaintiffs argue state law allows damages for FDA fraud.
chief_justice_rehnquist_asked_if_the_case_is_submitted.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 19-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if federal law bars state fraud claims against medical device makers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 2000.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 19-21
What each side wants
Buckman wants the state fraud claim dismissed.
Plaintiffs want to keep their state fraud claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
What each side says
Buckman argues federal law exclusively handles FDA fraud.
Plaintiffs argue state law allows damages for FDA fraud.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
What the justices asked
Does federal law preempt state fraud claims?
Can states award damages for FDA fraud?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 19-21
Why it matters
This dispute defines state power to sue over medical device fraud.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 19-21
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.