October Term 2013 · Docket 13-317

Can defendants prove no price impact before class certification?

the sides that brought the case want to prove no price impact at class certification. the opposing sides want to delay that proof until trial.

Official caption
Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, Inc.
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Argued
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Official Transcript

Verified source milestones

  1. — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
  2. — 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.

  1. Argument 1 ·

    What happened at the argument

    Mr. Streett argued Basic was wrong when decided.

    Mr. Boies argued Basic relied on commerce.

    Justice Kagan asked about the third point.

    Justice Alito asked about rebuttal success rates.

    Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details

    Sources used for this argument breakdown

A citizen's guide to the whole case

What this case is about

This case tests when defendants may prove a stock price did not react to alleged fraud. the sides that brought the case argue this proof belongs at class certification. the opposing sides argue it belongs at trial.

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How the case got here

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 5, 2014.

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What each side wants

the sides that brought the case want to prove no price impact at class certification.

the opposing sides want to delay price impact proof until trial.

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What each side says

the sides that brought the case argue Basic was wrong and substituted theory for reliance.

the opposing sides argue Basic relied on commerce, not economic theory.

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What the justices asked

Justice Kagan asked if the approach is binary.

Justice Ginsburg asked when the rebuttal occurs.

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Why it matters

This dispute determines when courts examine price impact evidence. It affects the cost and speed of securities litigation. It shapes how plaintiffs prove reliance on market prices.

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What happens next

This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.

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Official Court provenance

Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page

Title and summary sources

Revision history

  1. Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·

    Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.

  2. Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·

    Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.

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