October Term 2015 · Docket 15-415
Do auto service advisors qualify for the FLSA sales exemption?
The dispute centers on whether service advisors fit the statutory definition of exempt salespeople.
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
Clement asserted service advisors are salespeople engaged in servicing.
Bibas countered that service advisors only write paperwork.
Yang explained Congress separated salesmen from mechanics in 1974.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- 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 32-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-32
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the FLSA sales exemption for auto dealers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 20, 2016.
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 59, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-36
What each side wants
Encino Motorcars wants the Court to classify service advisors as exempt salespeople.
Navarro wants the Court to classify service advisors as non-exempt employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
What each side says
Clement argues service advisors are principally engaged in servicing automobiles.
Bibas argues service advisors do not sell cars or perform manual labor.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
What the justices asked
Sotomayor questioned the impact on salaried employees without overtime protection.
Breyer questioned the historical rationale for exempting partsmen and mechanics.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-32
Why it matters
The outcome defines which auto industry workers receive overtime pay protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
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 4-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-38
- 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 32-40 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-32
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 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 48-24 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 48-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 4-24 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 4-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 50-38 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 50-38
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.