October Term 2012 · Docket 11-864
Can a class proceed without proving uniform damages?
Comcast disputes the lower court's rejection of its expert evidence on class-wide damages.
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. Estrada argued the Third Circuit wrongly treated damages as a merits issue.
Justice Ginsburg noted liability can be class-wide while damages remain individual.
Justice Breyer questioned why damages cannot be calculated using competitive benchmarks.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- 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 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a class can certify without proving uniform damages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2012.
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
Comcast wants the class dismissed for lacking uniform damages proof.
Behrend wants the class certified despite individualized damages issues.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
What each side says
Comcast argues class certification requires proof of uniform damages.
Behrend argues liability can be proven collectively while damages vary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked what specific conduct shows Comcast gained power unfairly.
Justice Kagan asked if the lower courts used a favorable legal standard for Behrend.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- 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 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
Why it matters
This dispute defines the evidence needed to certify large consumer classes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
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 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- 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 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
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 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
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.