October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1284
Can a state lawsuit against a regulated company move to federal court?
The dispute centers on whether federal regulations allow a company to remove a state tort claim to federal court.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
David Frederick argued the Eighth Circuit correctly allowed removal.
He stated Philip Morris follows detailed Federal Trade Commission rules.
Justice Roberts questioned if companies can use different testing methods.
He asked if the FTC would allow lower tar figures in ads.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Watson sued Philip Morris in state court. The company sought removal to federal court. The Eighth Circuit allowed the move. The Supreme Court reviewed the lower court action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Watson wants the case to remain in state court.
Philip Morris wants the case moved to federal court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
What each side says
Philip Morris argues federal regulations make it a federal officer.
Watson argues state law claims do not create federal officer status.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if contractors execute government law.
Justice Ginsburg asked about government contractor precedents like Agent Orange.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal officer removal. It affects how companies use federal regulations in state lawsuits. It shapes the balance between state and federal judicial power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
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 10, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-49
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 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
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.