October Term 2007 · Docket 06-179
Does federal device approval block state injury lawsuits?
The dispute centers on whether federal pre-market approval bars state law claims for device injuries.
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
Ms. Zieve argued the case tests preemption of state claims.
Mr. Kneedler focused on the consequences of the side that brought the case's argument.
Mr. Olson highlighted Congress's balance of safety and availability.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- 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 33-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-13
- 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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal preemption for medical devices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 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
the side that brought the case wants the state law claims to proceed.
the opposing side wants the federal approval to block the claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues federal approval does not preempt state requirements.
the opposing side argues federal approval creates preemptive requirements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if manufacturers can market improvements without new FDA action.
Justice Kennedy asked if the jury performs the same task as the FDA.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-13
- 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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-41
Why it matters
The outcome defines the balance between device safety and patient access.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
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 33-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-13
- 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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-41
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 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-19
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.