October Term 2010 · Docket 10-76
Can a state court hear claims against a foreign parent company for acts by its subsidiaries elsewhere?
the sides that brought the case seek dismissal of a lawsuit filed in North Carolina. the opposing sides argue the state court has power over the parent company.
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. Feder argued the North Carolina court wrongly asserted general jurisdiction.
Ms. Peddie argued the Court should decline to assist the sides that brought the case.
Justice Scalia questioned whether leaving the subsidiary issue open resolves the case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
- 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 18-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of state court power over foreign corporations. the sides that brought the case want the North Carolina court to drop the case. the opposing sides want the court to keep the case and decide the claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the North Carolina court to dismiss the lawsuit.
the opposing sides want the North Carolina court to keep the lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the state court lacks power over the parent company.
the opposing sides argue the parent and subsidiaries form one single enterprise.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if there is no contest that jurisdiction exists over the parent.
Justice Kennedy asked why the parent is not liable for all subsidiary acts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-8
Why it matters
This dispute defines when states can sue foreign corporate parents. It affects how companies structure their global operations. It shapes the reach of state courts over international business.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
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 12-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-40
- 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 18-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-8
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 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 18-36 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 18-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-4
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.