October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1146
Can a jury use statistical sampling to award damages to a class of workers?
Tyson Foods argues that statistical estimates violate due process. Workers argue that sampling is a valid way to prove unpaid wages.
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
Carter Phillips argued that the jury instruction was improper. He stated that individual proof is necessary for each worker.
Elizabeth Prelogar argued that the jury instruction was correct. She stated that statistical sampling is a valid method for proving damages.
Justice Sotomayor noted that Tyson's own expert used a similar averaging method. She questioned the consistency of Tyson's position.
Justice Kagan emphasized the presumption that proof is not individualized. She linked this to the Mt. Clemens inquiry.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-10
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Tyson Foods seeks to reverse a lower court decision. The workers seek to affirm that decision. The dispute centers on whether statistical evidence can support a class-wide damages award.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-6
What each side wants
Tyson Foods wants the Court to reverse the lower court decision. It argues that individual proof is required for each worker.
The workers want the Court to affirm the lower court decision. They argue that statistical sampling is a fair method to prove unpaid wages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
What each side says
Tyson Foods contends that due process requires individualized proof of damages for every class member.
The workers contend that statistical sampling is a reliable and fair method to estimate unpaid wages for the class.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked about the statistical mechanism and objections to the testimony.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the plaintiff's expert used the same method as Tyson's expert in a prior case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-10
Why it matters
This case determines whether statistical sampling is a valid tool for proving class-wide damages. It affects how courts handle large groups of workers with similar claims. It shapes the balance between individual proof and collective efficiency in labor disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
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 26-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-10
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 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 30-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 30-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 34-6 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 34-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-36
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.