October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1214
Can a union sue a company for tortious interference with a contract?
The dispute centers on whether a union can sue a company for tortious interference with a contract.
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. Nussbaum argued the union's claim is a tort action.
Mr. Bonsall argued the union's claim is grounded in contract law.
Mr. Mathiason argued the case involves two questions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves two questions about a union's ability to sue a company for tortious interference with a contract.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 19, 2010.
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 court to dismiss the union's tortious interference claim.
the opposing side wants the court to allow the union's tortious interference claim to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the union's claim is a tort action, not a contract dispute.
the opposing side argues the union's claim is grounded in contract law, not a tort.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the union's claim is a tort action.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the union's claim is a tort action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether unions can sue companies for tortious interference with contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
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 47-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-49
- 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 31-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
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 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-25
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.