October Term 2011 · Docket 11-204
Do pharmaceutical sales reps qualify for the outside salesman exemption?
The dispute centers on whether these employees make sales or merely promote them.
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. Goldstein argued the Secretary defined outside salesmen as those who make sales.
Mr. Clement stated the sides that brought the case were hired and evaluated as salespeople.
Mr. Stewart noted common ground that outside salesmen must make sales.
Justice Alito questioned the consistency of the government's title transfer argument.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-16
- 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 36-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the FLSA outside salesman exemption. The core conflict involves how courts define the act of making a sale.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2012.
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 36-38 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-38
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to rule they are not outside salesmen.
the opposing sides want the Court to affirm their status as outside salesmen.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the employees promote sales rather than making them.
the opposing sides argue the employees make sales through their daily activities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if consignment transfers title to the property.
Justice Ginsburg asked if golf time counts as overtime work.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-16
- 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 36-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-14
Why it matters
This case defines who qualifies for the outside salesman exemption. It determines which workers receive overtime pay. It clarifies the legal definition of making a sale.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
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 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-16
- 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 36-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-14
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 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-30
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.