October Term 2012 · Docket 11-1450
Does a class action meet the federal amount-in-controversy threshold?
The parties dispute whether a single plaintiff's claim satisfies the federal jurisdictional requirement for class actions.
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
the side that brought the case argued Congress enacted the Class Action Fairness Act to protect absent class members.
the side that brought the case contended the stipulation binds the entire civil action filed by the representative.
the opposing side argued the text of the statute focuses on the specific claim amount.
the opposing side noted that absent class members can bring their own claims before certification.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-15
- 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 41-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Standard Fire Insurance Company seeks to remove a class action to federal court. the opposing side argues the claim does not meet the statutory threshold. The Court must interpret the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 7, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
What each side wants
Standard Fire Insurance Company wants the Court to allow removal to federal court.
Knowles wants the case to remain in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the defendant can prove the amount in controversy exceeds the threshold.
the opposing side argues the plaintiff's specific demand controls the jurisdictional analysis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the class would be certified if the stipulation were inadequate.
Justice Kagan asked whether the amount in controversy refers to the specific demand made.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-27
Why it matters
This case defines the federal jurisdictional threshold for class actions. It determines which courts hear these disputes. It affects the balance of power between state and federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
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 47-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-15
- 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 41-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-27
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 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-23
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.