October Term 2006 · Docket 05-381
Does Brooke Group apply to buyer-side antitrust claims?
The dispute centers on whether aggressive buyer bidding violates antitrust law.
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
Mr. Pincus argued Brooke Group standards should apply to buyer claims.
Mr. Shanmugam argued aggressive bidding is usually procompetitive.
Mr. Haglund argued market realities should trump per se rules.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- 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 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Weyerhaeuser argues Brooke Group standards apply to buyer claims. Ross-Simmons argues aggressive bidding is procompetitive.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 2006.
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
Weyerhaeuser wants the Court to apply Brooke Group standards to buyer claims.
Ross-Simmons wants the Court to reject applying Brooke Group to buyer claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
What each side says
Weyerhaeuser argues Brooke Group standards should apply to buyer purchase prices.
Ross-Simmons argues aggressive bidding is usually procompetitive and not a violation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if predatory price cutting alone establishes a Section 2 violation.
Justice Stevens asked if the conduct plus monopoly power establishes a violation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
Why it matters
This case defines the legal standard for buyer-side antitrust claims. It clarifies when aggressive bidding violates Section 2. The outcome shapes future antitrust litigation involving input markets.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
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 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
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.