October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1008
Can Federal Class Action Rules Override State Individual-Only Laws?
Shady Grove wants to sue Allstate as a class. Allstate argues New York law bans this.
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
Scott Nelson argued federal rules govern all federal courts.
Justice Ginsburg noted state laws often restrict penalty recoveries.
Justice Ginsburg cited prior cases avoiding federal-state conflicts.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- 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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Shady Grove seeks a class action. Allstate demands individual suits only.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Shady Grove wants to proceed as a class action.
Allstate wants to limit the case to individual claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
What each side says
Shady Grove argues federal rules control procedure.
Allstate argues state law restricts penalty recovery.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if federal courts can ignore state individual-only rights.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if all state statutes become invalid.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-9
- 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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-29
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between federal procedure and state law. It determines whether class actions can bypass state limits on penalties. The outcome shapes how consumers sue in federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, 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 10, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- 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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-29
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 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, 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.