Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. v. Albrecht
Holding: “Clear evidence” that the Food and Drug Administration would not have approved a change to a drug’s label – thus pre-empting a state-law failure-to-warn claim – is evidence showing…
Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt
Holding: Nevada v. Hall is overruled; states retain their sovereign immunity from private suits brought in courts of other states. Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on May…
Biestek v. Berryhill
Holding: A vocational expert’s refusal to provide private market-survey data during a Social Security disability benefits hearing upon the applicant’s request does not categorically preclude the testimony from counting as…
Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com
Holding: Registration occurs, and a copyright claimant may commence an infringement suit, when the Copyright Office registers a copyright. Judgment: Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg on March 4,…
Nutraceutical Corp. v. Lambert
Holding: Rule of Civil Procedure 23(f), which establishes a 14-day deadline to seek permission to appeal an order granting or denying class certification, is not subject to equitable tolling. Judgment: Reversed…
Yovino v. Rizo
Holding: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit erred when it counted as a member of the majority a judge who died before the court’s opinion, in this…
Dawson v. Steager
Holding: By taxing the federal pension benefits of U.S. Marshals Service retiree James Dawson, while exempting from taxation the pension benefits of certain state and local law enforcement officers, West…
Moore v. Texas
Holding: The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ redetermination that Bobby James Moore does not have an intellectual disability and is thus eligible for the death penalty is inconsistent with the…
Madison v. Alabama
Holding: The Eighth Amendment may permit executing a prisoner even if he cannot remember committing his crime, but it may prohibit executing a prisoner who suffers from dementia or another…
Helsinn Healthcare S.A. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
Holding: The sale of an invention to a third party who is obligated to keep the invention confidential may place the invention “on sale” for purposes of the Leahy-Smith America…