October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1573
Can employers force employees to arbitrate state labor penalties?
Viking River Cruises seeks to compel arbitration of a state labor penalty claim. The employee resists this move.
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 that prior Supreme Court decisions control the outcome. He stated that states cannot declare statutes too important for arbitration.
Clement noted similarities between state penalty claims and collective actions. He emphasized the need for consistent arbitration enforcement.
Nelson argued that the state creates a right of action for employees. He stated that employees sue on the state's behalf to recover penalties.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the Federal Arbitration Act overrides state labor laws. It asks if private arbitration can replace public enforcement of labor codes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 30, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-25
What each side wants
Viking River Cruises wants the Court to enforce the arbitration agreement. It seeks to stop the state penalty lawsuit.
Moriana wants the Court to reject the arbitration demand. She seeks to keep the state penalty claim in court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
What each side says
Viking River Cruises argues the Federal Arbitration Act mandates arbitration. It claims state laws cannot exempt these claims from private resolution.
Moriana argues the state penalty claim is distinct from private disputes. She contends the state retains the right to enforce labor codes publicly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the state could bring this lawsuit in an aggregated way.
Justice Breyer asked about the differences between this claim and a class action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-41
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether employers can privatize state labor enforcement. It affects the balance between private arbitration and public regulatory power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
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 29-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-41
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 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-7
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.