October Term 2014 · Docket 13-271
Does federal law block state antitrust suits against gas sellers?
Buyers claim gas sellers conspired to fix prices. Sellers argue federal law preempts these state claims.
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
Buyers argue state antitrust laws predate federal energy statutes.
Sellers argue FERC regulates practices that affect wholesale gas prices.
Buyers claim defendants conspired to fix retail gas prices.
Sellers assert federal law preempts conflicting state regulations.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether federal energy law blocks state antitrust suits. Buyers allege sellers conspired to inflate gas prices. Sellers argue federal regulators hold exclusive jurisdiction over these transactions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
What each side wants
Buyers want to keep their state antitrust claims alive.
Sellers want the Court to dismiss the state claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
What each side says
Buyers argue state antitrust laws protect consumers from price-fixing conspiracies.
Sellers argue federal law gives regulators exclusive power over gas prices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if customers can still complain to regulators.
Justice Sotomayor asked if FERC could punish retail sellers for consumers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-39
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether state courts can police gas prices. It affects how buyers seek redress for alleged price-fixing. It shapes the balance between state and federal antitrust enforcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
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 11-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-39
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 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 15-1
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.