October Term 2016 · Docket 16-466
Can California courts hear claims from out-of-state patients?
Bristol-Myers Squibb disputes a state court ruling that allowed non-California patients to sue there.
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
Bristol-Myers Squibb argues California lacks jurisdiction over out-of-state patients.
California argues the company's local ties justify hearing these claims.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the due process implications of pendent jurisdiction.
Justice Ginsburg asked if manufacturing location creates nationwide jurisdiction.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-16
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Bristol-Myers Squibb argues California lacks jurisdiction over out-of-state patients. California argues the company's local ties justify the suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-6
What each side wants
Bristol-Myers Squibb wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the out-of-state claims.
California wants the Supreme Court to keep the out-of-state claims in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
What each side says
Bristol-Myers Squibb argues due process bars jurisdiction over unrelated out-of-state injuries.
California argues the company's local activities create sufficient jurisdictional contacts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if manufacturing location alone creates jurisdiction nationwide.
Justice Sotomayor asked how pendent jurisdiction avoids due process violations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-16
Why it matters
This case defines the geographic limits of state court power over national companies. It determines whether one state can adjudicate injuries occurring elsewhere. The outcome shapes the balance between local judicial efficiency and corporate due process rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
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 8-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-16
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 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 14-14
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.