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Lamps Plus Inc. v. Varela

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Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
17-988 9th Cir. Oct 29, 2018 Apr 24, 2019 5-4 Roberts OT 2018

Holding: Under the Federal Arbitration Act, an ambiguous agreement cannot provide the necessary contractual basis for concluding that the parties agreed to submit to class arbitration.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 5-4, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on April 24, 2019. Justice Thomas filed a concurring opinion. Justice Ginsburg filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Breyer and Sotomayor joined. Justices Breyer and Sotomayor filed dissenting opinions. Justice Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Ginsburg and Breyer joined, and in which Justice Sotomayor joined as to Part II.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Nov 22 2017Application (17A577) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 10, 2017 to January 10, 2018, submitted to Justice Kennedy.
Nov 28 2017Application (17A577) granted by Justice Kennedy extending the time to file until January 10, 2018.
Jan 10 2018Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 12, 2018)
Feb 06 2018Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 12, 2018 to March 14, 2018, submitted to The Clerk.
Feb 08 2018Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 14, 2018.
Feb 12 2018Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States America filed.
Mar 14 2018Brief of respondent Frank Varela in opposition filed.
Mar 28 2018DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/13/2018.
Mar 28 2018Reply of petitioners Lamps Plus, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
Apr 16 2018DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/20/2018.
Apr 23 2018DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/27/2018.
Apr 30 2018Petition GRANTED.
Jun 04 2018Motion for an extension of time to file the joint appendix and the opening briefs on the merits filed.
Jun 08 2018Motion to extend the time to file the joint appendix the opening briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 9, 2018. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 30, 2018.
Jul 09 2018Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Jul 09 2018Brief of petitioners Lamps Plus, Inc., et al. filed.
Jul 13 2018Brief amicus curiae of DRI–The Voice of the Defense Bar filed.
Jul 13 2018Brief amicus curiae of New England Legal Foundation filed.
Jul 16 2018Brief amicus curiae of Retail Litigation Center, Inc. filed.
Jul 16 2018Brief amicus curiae of Center for Workplace Compliance filed.
Jul 16 2018Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States America filed.
Aug 20 2018SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, October 29 2018
Aug 30 2018Brief of respondent Frank Varela filed.
Sep 06 2018Brief amici curiae of Contract Law Scholars filed.
Sep 06 2018Brief amicus curiae of American Association for Justice filed.
Sep 10 2018Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit.
Sep 12 2018CIRCULATED
Oct 01 2018Reply of petitioners Lamps Plus, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
Oct 29 2018Argued. For petitioners: Andrew J. Pincus, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Michele M. Vercoski, Ontario, Cal.
Apr 24 2019Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion. Ginsburg, J. filed a dissenting opinion, in which Breyer and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., and Sotomayor, J., filed dissenting opinions. Kagan, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg and Breyer, JJ., joined, and in which Sotomayor, J., joined as to Part II.
May 28 2019JUDGMENT ISSUED.