October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1463
Does California law bar arbitration for talent agency disputes?
The dispute centers on whether state law invalidates an arbitration clause in a talent agency contract.
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. Schleimer argued the arbitration clause should be enforced.
Mr. Brunstad argued the state statute does not invalidate the agreement.
justice_souter_questioned_implicit_option
justice_scaria_questioned_parallel_proceedings
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- 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 45-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if a state statute overrides a private arbitration agreement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the arbitration clause enforced.
the opposing side wants the state statute to void the clause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the arbitration clause remains valid.
the opposing side argues state law invalidates the agreement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if implicit option of California law is at issue.
Justice Scalia questioned if arbitration clauses exclude parallel proceedings automatically.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- 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 45-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
Why it matters
This case determines if state laws can override private arbitration agreements. It affects how talent agency disputes are resolved. It impacts the enforceability of contractual arbitration clauses nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
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 31-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- 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 45-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
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 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
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.