October Term 2003 · Docket 03-724
Can foreign buyers sue U.S. firms for overseas vitamin price fixing?
Foreign buyers seek damages for high vitamin prices abroad. U.S. firms argue the law bars such 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
Mr. Shapiro argued the U.S. government supports reversing the lower court.
Mr. Pate explained how international cartel enforcement actually works.
Mr. Goldstein described the sides that brought the case as companies caught in a conspiracy.
Mr. Goldstein argued Illinois Brick does not bar these specific claims.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-40
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether U.S. antitrust law reaches foreign buyers. the sides that brought the case want dismissal. the opposing sides want to keep their lawsuit alive.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-40
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to dismiss the foreign buyers' lawsuit.
the opposing sides want the Court to allow their lawsuit to continue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the buyers paid for goods outside U.S. commerce.
the opposing sides argue the conspiracy harmed U.S. markets and deterrence matters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case was submitted.
Justice Breyer asked a question that Mr. Goldstein deferred.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-40
Why it matters
This case defines the geographic reach of U.S. antitrust law. It determines if foreign buyers can sue for overseas harm. It shapes global cartel enforcement strategies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
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 4-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-40
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 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 21-36 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 21-36
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.