October Term 2012 · Docket 12-25
Does the DPPA ban lawyers from buying DMV data for litigation?
Lawyers want to buy DMV records for lawsuits. The state says the DPPA bans this bulk sale.
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. Guerra argues the DPPA requires express consent.
He says the litigation exception does not apply.
Mr. Clement argues Congress did not manage attorney solicitation.
He says states always controlled this area.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-45
- 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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The DPPA restricts state DMV data sales. It imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations. It directly regulates state database use.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 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 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to buy DMV data for litigation.
the opposing sides want to block this bulk data sale.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the DPPA does not cover lawyers.
the opposing sides argue the DPPA bans bulk solicitation sales.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
What the justices asked
Does the research exception cover university projects?
Does the statute cover state health marketing?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-45
- 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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-43
Why it matters
This case defines state data privacy limits. It shapes commercial data sales rules. It impacts legal research and marketing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
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 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-45
- 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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-43
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 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-37
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.