October Term 2005 · Docket 04-905
Does the Robinson-Patman Act cover dealers who lose competitive bids?
Volvo Trucks and Reeder-Simco GMC dispute whether a dealer who loses a bid can sue for price discrimination.
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. Phillips argued the case involves competition between dealers.
Mr. Englert noted sixty-six years passed since the law passed.
chief_justice_roberts_asked_if_the_language_covers_potential_purchasers
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-52 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Robinson-Patman Act. The law bans sellers from charging different prices to different buyers. The dispute centers on whether a dealer who loses a competitive bid counts as a buyer under this law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-52 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-52
What each side wants
Volvo Trucks wants the Court to say the law does not cover lost bids.
Reeder-Simco GMC wants the Court to say the law covers lost bids.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
What each side says
Volvo Trucks argues the law requires a completed sale to apply.
Reeder-Simco GMC argues the law covers potential buyers in competitive bidding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked about dealers receiving different concessions over time.
Justice Stevens asked if ordinary inventory sales involve two purchasers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-52 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-5
Why it matters
This case defines who can sue for unfair pricing. It affects how manufacturers compete with dealers. It shapes the rules for competitive bidding in commerce.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
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 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-52 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-5
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 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 47-47
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.