October Term 2010 · Docket 08-1314
Does federal safety flexibility preempt state tort claims?
the sides that brought the case seek to bar a state injury claim. the opposing sides argue federal rules allow 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
Mr. Buchanan argued the claim is impliedly preempted.
Mr. Jay argued the savings clause preserves state claims.
Mr. Garre cited agency determinations favoring manufacturer flexibility.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if federal flexibility bars state tort claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2010.
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
the sides that brought the case want the state claim dismissed.
the opposing sides want the state claim to stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue federal flexibility preempts state claims.
the opposing sides argue federal rules allow state claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia questioned why juries can act while states cannot.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if state actions differ from federal ones.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-41
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between federal safety rules and state courts. It determines whether manufacturers face state liability for design choices. The outcome shapes how federal agencies balance safety and innovation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-41
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 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
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.