Decided
Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp.
Holding
The petitioners " pharmaceutical sales representatives whose primary duty is to obtain nonbinding commitments from physicians to prescribe their employer"s prescription drugs in appropriate cases " qualify as outside salesmen under the most reasonable interpretation of the Department of Labor"s regulations.
Judgment
Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Jun 18, 2012. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion in which Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined.
Merits briefs for the Petitioners
- Brief for Michael Shane Christopher and Frank Buchanan”
- Reply brief for Michael Shane Christopher and Frank Buchanan
Amicus Briefs Supporting the Petitioners
- Brief for the United States
- Brief for the National Employment Lawyers Association”
- Brief for Medical Professionals”
- Brief for Certified Class of Pharmaceutical Representatives from Johnson & Johnson”
- Brief for Pharmaceutical Representatives”
Merits Briefs for the Respondent
Amicus Briefs in Support of the Respondent
- Brief for the Chamber of Commerce”
- Brief for the National Federation of Independent Business
- Brief for the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence”
- Brief for the Washington Legal Foundation”
- Brief of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
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Related Coverage
Aug 12, 2011Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 16, 2011)
Aug 25, 2011Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 17, 2011.
Oct 17, 2011Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed.
Oct 17, 2011Brief of respondent SmithKline Beecham Corporation, dba GlaxoSmithKline filed.
Oct 17, 2011Brief amicus curiae of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America filed.
Oct 31, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 22, 2011.
Nov 28, 2011Petition GRANTED.
Jan 5, 2012The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including January 30, 2012.
Jan 5, 2012The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including March 19, 2012.
Jan 12, 2012Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners.
Jan 30, 2012Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Jan 30, 2012Brief of petitioners Michael Shane Christopher, et al. filed.
Feb 3, 2012SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, April 16, 2012
Feb 6, 2012Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed.
Feb 6, 2012Brief amici curiae of National Employment Lawyers Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Feb 6, 2012Brief amici curiae of Pharmaceutical Representatives filed.
Feb 6, 2012Brief amici curiae of Certified Class of Pharmaceutical Representatives from Johnson & Johnson filed.
Feb 6, 2012Brief amici curiae of Medical Professionals filed.
Feb 13, 2012Record received from U.S.C.A. for 9th Circuit. (1 envelope)
Feb 13, 2012Record from U.S.D.C. for the District of Arizona is electronic.
Feb 17, 2012CIRCULATED.
Feb 28, 2012Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Mar 19, 2012Brief of respondent SmithKline Beecham Corporation, dba GlaxoSmithKline filed. (Distributed)
Mar 26, 2012Brief amicus curiae of Equal Employment Advisory Council filed. (Distributed)
Mar 26, 2012Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed. (Distributed)
Mar 26, 2012Brief amicus curiae of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America filed. (Distributed)
Mar 26, 2012Brief amicus curiae of National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center filed. (Distributed)
Mar 26, 2012Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed. (Distributed)
Mar 26, 2012Brief amici curiae of Washington Legal Foundation, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Apr 2, 2012Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Apr 6, 2012Reply of petitioners Michael Shane Christopher, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Apr 16, 2012Argued. For petitioners: Thomas C. Goldstein, Washington, D. C.; and Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: Paul D. Clement, Washington D. C.
May 25, 2012Letter from counsel for petitioners filed. (Distributed)
Jun 18, 2012Adjudged to be AFFIRMED Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined.
Jul 20, 2012JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Recommended Citation: Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp., SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/christopher-v-smithkline-beecham-corp/