October Term 2015 · Docket 14-462
Does Federal Law Override State Court Interpretation of Arbitration Clauses?
DirectV seeks to enforce an individual arbitration clause. Imburgia argues state law bars class arbitration.
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
DirectV's counsel argued the lower court violated federal law.
Imburgia's counsel cited prior Supreme Court precedent on arbitration scope.
Justices questioned the role of state law in federal preemption.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
DirectV wants a federal court to enforce its individual arbitration clause. Imburgia wants a state court to apply state law and allow class arbitration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
What each side wants
DirectV wants the Court to enforce the individual arbitration clause.
Imburgia wants the Court to uphold the state court's interpretation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
What each side says
DirectV argues the Federal Arbitration Act requires enforcing the clause.
Imburgia argues state contract law controls the interpretation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if federal law applies to scope disputes.
Justice Sotomayor asked which contract principle disfavors arbitration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between state and federal contract law. It determines how courts interpret arbitration clauses. It affects consumer rights in class actions. It shapes the enforceability of arbitration agreements nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
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 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
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 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-1
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.