Mission Product Holdings Inc. v. Tempnology, LLC
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-1657 | 1st Cir. | Feb 20, 2019 | May 20, 2019 | 8-1 | Kagan | OT 2018 |
Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the counsel on an amicus brief in support of the petitioner in this case.
Holding: A bankruptcy debtor’s rejection of an executory contract under 11 U.S.C. §365 has the same effect as a breach of that contract outside bankruptcy; such an act thus cannot rescind rights that the contract previously granted.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 8-1, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on May 20, 2019. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion. Justice Gorsuch filed a dissenting opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Justices narrow bankrupts’ power to rescind contracts in bankruptcy (Ronald Mann, May 21, 2019)
- Argument analysis: Meandering argument suggests justices likely to narrow bankrupts’ power to rescind licenses in bankruptcy (Ronald Mann, February 20, 2019)
- OT2018 #19: "Fake Mootness" (First Mondays, February 18, 2019)
- Argument preview: Justices to examine rejection of contracts in bankruptcy (Ronald Mann, February 13, 2019)
- OT2018 #5: "Arbitration Nation" (First Mondays, October 31, 2018)
- Justices add three new cases to this term’s docket (Amy Howe, October 26, 2018)
- Petition of the day (Aurora Barnes, June 26, 2018)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Mar 27 2018 | Application (17A1060) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from April 12, 2018 to June 11, 2018, submitted to Justice Breyer. |
| Apr 02 2018 | Application (17A1060) granted by Justice Breyer extending the time to file until June 11, 2018. |
| Jun 11 2018 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 12, 2018) |
| Jun 28 2018 | Waiver of right of respondent Tempnology, LLC, n/k/a Old Cold LLC to respond filed. |
| Jul 03 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/24/2018. |
| Jul 09 2018 | Response Requested. (Due August 8, 2018) |
| Jul 11 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of The International Trademark Association filed. |
| Jul 20 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 8, 2018 to September 7, 2018, submitted to The Clerk. |
| Jul 24 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including September 7, 2018. |
| Aug 08 2018 | Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed. |
| Sep 07 2018 | Brief of respondent Tempnology, LLC, n/k/a Old Cold LLC in opposition filed. |
| Sep 25 2018 | Reply of petitioner Mission Product Holdings, Inc. filed. |
| Sep 26 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/12/2018. |
| Oct 22 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/26/2018. |
| Oct 25 2018 | Letter of October 23, 2018 from counsel for respondent received. (Distributed) |
| Oct 26 2018 | Letter of October 25, 2018 from counsel for petitioner received. (Distributed) |
| Oct 26 2018 | Petition GRANTED limited to Question 1 presented by the petition. |
| Dec 10 2018 | Brief of petitioner Mission Product Holdings, Inc. filed. |
| Dec 10 2018 | Joint appendix (2 volumes) filed. |
| Dec 12 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association in support of neither party filed. |
| Dec 17 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. |
| Dec 17 2018 | Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed. |
| Dec 17 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of New York Intellectual Property Law Association filed. |
| Dec 17 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of American Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed. |
| Dec 17 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of The International Trademark Association filed. |
| Dec 21 2018 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. |
| Dec 21 2018 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. |
| Jan 09 2019 | Brief of respondent Tempnology, LLC, n/k/a Old Cold LLC filed. |
| Jan 11 2019 | Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 1st Circuit. |
| Jan 15 2019 | CIRCULATED |
| Jan 18 2019 | Record from the U.S.C.A. 1st Circuit is electronic and located on PACER, with the exception of one envelop containing the Joint Appendix. |
| Jan 22 2019 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. |
| Feb 08 2019 | Reply of petitioner Mission Product Holdings, Inc. filed. (Distributed) |
| Feb 20 2019 | Argued. For petitioner: Danielle Spinelli, Washington, D. C.; and Zachary D. Tripp, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, Washington, D. C. |
| May 20 2019 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion. Gorsuch, J., filed a dissenting opinion. |
| Jun 21 2019 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
