October Term 2007 · Docket 06-43
Can investors sue third-party vendors for aiding securities fraud?
Investors seek damages from a vendor that allegedly helped a company inflate earnings. The vendor argues federal law bars such suits.
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. Grossman argued the statute bans any deceptive device in securities trades.
Mr. Shapiro argued the investors seek to expand an implied cause of action.
Mr. Hungar argued the lower court correctly applied prior precedent.
Mr. Grossman questioned why a contract existed if the advertising cost nothing.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-48
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal securities fraud laws. It asks whether private investors can sue third parties who aid a company in misleading shareholders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 9, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-30
What each side wants
Investors want to recover money lost from alleged fraud.
The vendor wants the lawsuit dismissed to avoid liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
What each side says
Investors argue the law bans all deceptive acts in securities trades.
The vendor argues prior precedent bars private suits against third parties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the vendor knew the company would use the data.
Justice Scalia asked what specific facts prove the vendor intended to defraud.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-48
Why it matters
This dispute defines who investors can sue for securities fraud. It shapes the reach of federal anti-fraud protections for shareholders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
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 34-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-48
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 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 46-26
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.