October Term 2017 · Docket 16-1454
Does Amex's ban on steering cardholders violate antitrust law?
Ohio and other states argue Amex's rules block price competition. Amex claims the rules boost consumer rewards and market share.
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. Stewart argued the Second Circuit made two fundamental errors.
Mr. Stewart claimed Amex's rules eliminate price competition across the market.
Mr. Chesler argued Amex offers consumers what they want to compete.
Mr. Chesler stated transaction volume has increased dramatically against larger rivals.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether Amex's anti-steering rules harm competition. Ohio argues the rules eliminate price competition. Amex argues the rules increase consumer benefits and market share.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 26, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-27
What each side wants
Ohio wants the Court to find Amex's rules violate antitrust law.
Amex wants the Court to uphold the Second Circuit's ruling.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
What each side says
Ohio argues Amex's rules eliminate price competition across the market.
Amex argues its rules increase consumer rewards and transaction volume.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked if evidence shows consumers pay a net price increase.
Justice Gorsuch asked if the evidence proves restricted output in this case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
Why it matters
The outcome defines how courts analyze two-sided markets. It determines whether loyalty programs count as consumer benefits. It shapes future antitrust enforcement against platform businesses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
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 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
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 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-9
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.