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M&G Polymers USA, LLC v. Tackett

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
13-1010 6th Cir. Nov 10, 2014 Jan 26, 2015 9-0 Thomas OT 2014

Holding: To determine whether retiree health-care benefits survive the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement, courts should apply ordinary contract principles. Those principles do not include the Sixth Circuit"s inference that parties to collective bargaining would intend retiree benefits to vest for life.

Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on January 26, 2015.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
01/10/2014Application (13A753) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from January 20, 2014 to February 20, 2014, submitted to Justice Kagan.
01/16/2014Application (13A753) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until February 20, 2014.
02/20/2014Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 26, 2014)
03/26/2014Brief of respondents Hobert Freel Tackett, et al. in opposition filed.
04/07/2014Reply of petitioners M&G Polymers USA, LLC, et al. filed.
04/09/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 25, 2014.
04/28/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 2, 2014.
05/05/2014Petition GRANTED limited to Question 1 presented by the petition.
05/09/2014The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 10, 2014.
06/20/2014Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners.
07/08/2014Consent to the filing ofamicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents.
07/10/2014The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is further extended to and including July 17, 2014.
07/10/2014The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 15, 2014.
07/17/2014Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
07/17/2014Brief of petitioners M&G Polymers USA, LLC, et al. filed.
07/24/2014Brief amici curiae of Council on Labor Law Equality and the Society for Human Resource Management filed.
07/24/2014Brief amicus curiae of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., in support of neither party filed.
07/24/2014Brief amici curiae of ERISA Industry Committee and the American Benefits Council filed.
07/24/2014Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, and the Business Roundtable filed.
07/24/2014Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Manufacturers filed.
07/24/2014Brief amicus curiae of Whirlpool Corporation filed.
09/04/2014SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, November 10, 2014.
09/08/2014Record requested from U.S.C.A. 6th Circuit.
09/15/2014Brief of respondents Hobert Freel Tackett, et al. filed.
09/15/2014Record received from U.S.C.A. 6th Circuit is electronic.
09/19/2014CIRCULATED
09/22/2014Brief amici curiae of Labor and Benefits Law Professors filed. (Distributed)
09/22/2014Brief amici curiae of Fox Retiree Committee, et al. filed. (Distributed)
09/22/2014Brief amicus curiae of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations filed. (Distributed)
10/15/2014Reply of petitioners M&G Polymers USA, LLC, et al. filed. (Distributed)
11/10/2014Argued. For petitioners: Allyson N. Ho, Dallas, Tex. For respondents: Julia P. Clark, Washington, D. C.
01/26/2015Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Ginsburg, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined.
02/27/2015JUDGMENT ISSUED.