October Term 2010 · Docket 09-152
Does federal law bar state tort claims for vaccine injuries?
the sides that brought the case seek state court damages. the opposing sides seek federal preemption.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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. Frederick argued the statute does not protect manufacturers.
Mr. Horwich argued the CDC role is central to the case.
Justice Alito questioned the statutory text's redundancy.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-42
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if federal vaccine law blocks state tort claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want state courts to hear vaccine injury claims.
the opposing sides want federal law to block state tort claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute does not preempt state law.
the opposing sides argue the statute preempts state tort claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked about the meaning of unavoidable.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the compensation scheme purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-42
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of federal vaccine liability law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
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 22-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-42
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 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 6-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 6-26
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.