October Term 2016 · Docket 16-341
Does a corporation reside only where it incorporates for patent venue?
Kraft argues venue follows principal place of business. Heartland argues venue follows incorporation.
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
Mr. Jay argued definitions matter more than historical context.
Mr. Dabney framed the choice as upholding or destroying venue protections.
Mr. Dabney noted venue rules apply to generic drug makers too.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- 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 10-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the definition of corporate residence under 28 U.S.C. 1400(b).
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 27, 2017.
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 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
What each side wants
Heartland wants the Court to limit venue to the state of incorporation.
Kraft wants the Court to allow venue in the principal place of business.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
What each side says
Heartland argues Congress defined residence strictly for all venue purposes.
Kraft argues venue should consider the principal place of business.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if principal place of business counts for diversity.
Justice Sotomayor asked how the Court handles unincorporated associations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
Why it matters
This case defines where patent suits can begin. It shapes corporate litigation strategy nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
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 11, lines 38-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-18
- 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 10-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
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 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 28-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 28-6
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.