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Ohio v. American Express Co.

Docket No. Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
16-1454 Feb 26, 2018 Jun 25, 2018 5-4 Thomas OT 2017

Holding: American Express" anti-steering provisions in its merchant contracts"which prohibit merchants from avoiding fees by discouraging customers" American Express card use at the point of sale"do not violate federal antitrust law.

Judgment: Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on June 25, 2018. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
03/22/2017Application (16A923) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from April 5, 2017 to May 5, 2017, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.
03/24/2017Application (16A923) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until May 5, 2017.
04/20/2017Application (16A923) to extend further the time from May 5, 2017 to June 2, 2017, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.
04/24/2017Application (16A923) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until June 2, 2017.
06/02/2017Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 6, 2017)
06/13/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for State petitioners Ohio, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont.
06/16/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondent Texas.
06/19/2017Waiver of right of respondent State of Tennessee to respond filed.
06/22/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondent United States.
06/22/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondents American Express Company, et al.
06/22/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or neither party, received from counsel for respondent State of Arizona.
06/23/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondent State of Nebraska.
06/26/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondent State of Missouri.
06/28/2017Order extending time to file response to petition to and including August 7, 2017, for all respondents.
07/06/2017Order further extending time to file the response of American Express Company, et al. to petition to and including August 21, 2017.
07/06/2017Brief amici curiae of Ahold U.S.A., Inc., et al. filed.
07/06/2017Brief amici curiae of John M. Connor, et al. filed.
07/06/2017Brief amicus curiae of Discover Financial Services filed.
07/06/2017Brief amicus curiae of Retail Litigation Center, Inc. filed.
07/06/2017Brief amici curiae of Former Federal Antitrust Officials filed.
07/06/2017Brief amicus curiae of Southwest Airlines Co. filed.
07/06/2017Brief amicus curiae of United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Inc. filed.
07/06/2017Brief amici curiae of 25 Professors of Antitrust law filed.
08/07/2017Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
08/21/2017Brief of respondent American Express Company in opposition filed.
09/05/2017Reply of petitioner Ohio, et al. filed. (Distributed)
09/06/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/25/2017.
10/02/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/6/2017.
10/10/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/13/2017.
10/16/2017Petition GRANTED.
10/24/2017Blanket Consent filed by petitioners Ohio, et al.
11/01/2017The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including December 7, 2017.
11/01/2017The time to file respondents' briefs on the merits is extended to and including January 16, 2018.
11/13/2017Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, United States
11/21/2017Blanket Consent filed by Respondents, American Express Co., et al.
11/21/2017Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, State of Missouri
12/07/2017Brief of petitioners Ohio, et al. filed.
12/07/2017Brief of respondent United States in support of petitioners filed.
12/07/2017Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
12/12/2017Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, State of Tennessee
12/13/2017Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, State of Nebraska
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Inc.; Center for Responsible Lending; Consumer Federation of America; Consumers Union; National Association of Consumer Advocates; National Consumer Law Center; Public Citizen, Inc. filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of American Medical Association and Ohio State Medical Association filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of 20 Merchants as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioners filed.
12/14/2017Brief amicus curiae of Verizon Communications Inc. in support of neither party filed.
12/14/2017Brief amicus curiae of The Merchant Advisory Group filed.
12/14/2017Brief amicus curiae of American Antitrust Institute filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of John M. Connor, et al. filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of Ahold U.S.A., Inc.; Albertsons LLC; The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, Inc.; H.E. Butt Grocery Co.; Meijer, Inc.; Publix Super Markets, Inc.; Raley's; Rite Aid Corporation; Safeway, Inc.; Supervalu, Inc.; and Walgreen Co. filed.
12/14/2017Brief amicus curiae of Open Markets Institute filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of International Air Transport Association and Airlines for America filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., The Home Depot, Inc., Target Corporation, Sears Holding Management Corporation, Jo-Ann Stores, LLC, and Merchant Trade Associations filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of 28 Professors of Antitrust Law filed.
12/14/2017Amicus brief of 27 Professors of Antitrust Law not accepted for filing. (December 15, 2017)
12/14/2017Brief amicus curiae of Discover Financial Services filed.
12/14/2017Brief amici curiae of New York, Alaska, California, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia filed.
12/14/2017Brief amicus curiae of The Australian Retailers Association filed.
12/20/2017SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, February 26, 2018.
01/05/2018CIRCULATED
01/10/2018Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit.
01/16/2018Record received from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit is electronic.
01/16/2018Brief of respondents American Express Co., et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/17/2018Motion for divided argument filed by the Solicitor General.
01/18/2018Record received from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit 1 box, this record is Sealed.
01/23/2018Brief amici curiae of J. Gregory Sidak and Robert D. Willig filed. (Distributed)
01/23/2018Brief amicus curiae of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America filed. (Distributed)
01/23/2018Brief amicus curiae of Computer & Communications Industry Association filed. (Distributed)
01/23/2018Brief amicus curiae of The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance filed. (Distributed)
01/23/2018Brief amici curiae of Prof. David S. Evans and Prof. Richard Schmalensee filed. (Distributed)
01/23/2018Brief amici curiae of Antitrust Law & Economics Scholars filed. (Distributed)
01/23/2018Brief amicus curiae of The Clearing House Association L.L.C. filed. (Distributed)
02/12/2018Reply of petitioners Ohio, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/14/2018Record received from the U.S. Dist. Court Eastern Dist. of New York. The record has some Sealed Documents and is electronic.
02/15/2018Reply of respondent United States filed. (Distributed)
02/16/2018Motion for divided argument filed by the Solicitor General GRANTED.
02/26/2018Argued. For petitioners and state respondents in support: Eric E. Murphy, State Solicitor, Columbus, Ohio. For respondent United States in support of petitioners: Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Evan R. Chesler, New York, N. Y.
06/25/2018Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Alito, and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined.
07/27/2018JUDGMENT ISSUED.
08/21/2018Record from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit has been returned.