October Term 2011 · Docket 10-879
Does federal law block state asbestos claims?
the sides that brought the case seek dismissal of state asbestos claims. the opposing sides seek to keep those claims alive.
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
Ms. Smith asserted the LIA does not cover broader regulatory authority.
Ms. Harrington urged the Court to separate field and conflict preemption.
Mr. Frederick stated Congress intended the LIA for locomotive safety in use.
Mr. Hacker argued the DOT holds exclusive authority over locomotive design.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if federal locomotive rules block state asbestos claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2011.
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 sides that brought the case want the state claims dismissed.
the opposing sides want the state claims to continue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue federal law preempts state claims.
the opposing sides argue federal law does not preempt state claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the argument depends on asbestos staying inside.
Justice Sotomayor asked how the ICC regulated yard lights in 1916.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of federal regulatory power. It determines which law governs workplace safety disputes. It shapes future litigation over industrial materials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
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 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
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 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
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.