October Term 2018 · Docket 17-988
Does a general arbitration clause authorize class claims?
The dispute centers on whether a broad contract clause permits class arbitration.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Pincus argued the shift to class arbitration is fundamental.
Vercoski argued state contract principles should apply here.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-28
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Lamps Plus argues the clause allows class claims. Varela argues it does not.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 29, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
What each side wants
Lamps Plus wants the Court to allow class arbitration.
Varela wants the Court to block class arbitration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
What each side says
Lamps Plus argues the broad clause covers class claims.
Varela argues the clause only covers individual claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if losing parties can appeal directly.
Justice Kagan asked if general clauses imply specific subcategories.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-28
Why it matters
This case defines how courts interpret broad arbitration clauses. It determines whether consumers can join class claims. It shapes the balance between individual and collective disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
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 8-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-28
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 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-15
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.