October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1107
Where does a corporation reside for legal purposes?
Hertz seeks a clear rule to determine a company's home state. Opponents argue the current standard creates confusion.
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. Srinivasan argued for a clear headquarters standard.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the practical application of that standard.
Justice Ginsburg noted that headquarters are always within a state.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
- 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 37-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests how courts identify a corporation's home state. Hertz wants a single, clear location. Opponents want a flexible, fact-based approach.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2009.
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
Hertz wants a single, clear rule to identify a company's home state.
Opponents want courts to use a flexible, fact-based approach.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
What each side says
Hertz argues a corporation's headquarters define its home state.
Opponents argue a corporation's principal place of business defines its home state.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how to distinguish between one and multiple business locations.
Justice Sotomayor asked for a meaningful principle to limit the headquarters test.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
Why it matters
This case defines where a corporation legally resides. It affects which courts hear corporate lawsuits. It shapes how companies structure their operations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
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 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- 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 37-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
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 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-35
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.