October Term 2012 · Docket 12-133
Can arbitration costs block antitrust claims?
American Express seeks to enforce an arbitration clause. The restaurant argues the clause blocks effective antitrust relief.
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. Kellogg argued the lower court erred in refusing enforcement.
Mr. Clement argued the vindication of rights doctrine applies here.
Mr. Stewart noted the Court asked about pure exculpatory clauses.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether high arbitration costs invalidate a contract clause. American Express wants to enforce the clause. The restaurant argues the clause prevents effective legal relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-37
What each side wants
American Express wants the Court to enforce the arbitration clause.
The restaurant wants the Court to reject the arbitration clause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
What each side says
American Express argues the clause is valid under federal law.
The restaurant argues the clause prevents effective vindication of rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if individual arbitrations provide sufficient relief.
Justice Kagan asked if a clause barring antitrust claims is enforceable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-31
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of arbitration agreements. It determines whether cost barriers can invalidate statutory rights. The outcome shapes access to federal antitrust remedies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
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 15-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-31
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 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-41
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.