October Term 2008 · Docket 07-562
Does federal law block state suits over cigarette health claims?
Altria argues federal law preempts state fraud claims. Good argues state law allows such suits.
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
Theodore Olson argued the federal statute explicitly preempts state requirements.
He stated the complaint challenges promotions of light cigarettes.
He claimed Congress preempted requirements respecting promotion based on health.
Justice Ginsburg questioned if states could sue over specific nicotine statements.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Altria Group, Inc. v. Good
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 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
Altria wants the Court to dismiss Good's state law claims.
Good wants the Court to allow her state law claims to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
What each side says
Altria argues the federal Cigarette Labeling Act preempts state claims about smoking health.
Good argues the federal Act did not intend to shield false statements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if states could sue over specific nicotine claims.
Justice Kennedy asked if manufacturers must disclose new drug interactions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-11
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between federal and state consumer protection laws. It determines whether states can police false health claims. It affects how companies market products with health implications. It shapes the balance of regulatory power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
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 9-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-11
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 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 3-5
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.