October Term 2020 · Docket 20-297
Does a data error without financial loss count as a legal injury?
Credit bureaus argue that a data error without financial loss is not a legal injury. Consumers argue that the error itself causes harm.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Paul Clement argued the class lacks standing and typicality.
Sarah Reaves argued the class members have standing.
Justice Thomas asked about commonality and predominance.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-55 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a data error counts as a legal injury. The dispute centers on standing to sue for procedural violations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 30, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
What each side wants
The credit bureau wants the class action dismissed for lack of standing.
The consumers want the class action to proceed to trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
What each side says
The credit bureau argues that no concrete injury occurred without financial loss.
The consumers argue that the data error itself constitutes a concrete injury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if third-party disclosure creates worry.
Chief Justice Roberts asked why perfect credit users need reports.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-55 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-25
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of consumer data protection laws. It determines who can sue for data errors. It shapes future privacy litigation standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
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 13-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-55 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-25
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 89, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 89, lines 55-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.