Forum
U.S. Supreme Court
Case Status
Decided
Docket Number
Term
2018 Term
Oral Argument Date
October 29, 2018
Lower Court Opinion
Questions Presented
Whether the Federal Arbitration Act forecloses a state-law interpretation of an arbitration agreement that would authorize class arbitration based solely on general language commonly used in arbitration agreements.
Case Updates
Outcome
April 24, 2019
The Supreme Court issued a decision limiting the ability of the plaintiffs’ bar to construe ambiguous language in a contract to argue for class arbitration—that is, to bring a class action in arbitration, rather than in a court. This outcome limits the ability of the plaintiffs’ bar to import class action litigation into arbitration.
U.S. Chamber files merits-stage amicus brief arguing Supreme Court should reverse Ninth Circuit’s conclusion that arbitration agreement authorizes class arbitration
July 16, 2018
Click here to view the Chamber’s amicus brief.
Thomas R. McCarthy and J. Michael Connolly of Consovoy McCarthy Park PLLC served as co-counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center.
Cert. petition granted
April 30, 2018
U.S. Chamber asks Supreme Court to summarily reverse Ninth Circuit decision imposing class arbitration based on routine agreement to arbitrate
February 12, 2018
Click here to view the Chamber's amicus brief.
Thomas R. McCarthy and Bryan K. Weir of Consovoy McCarthy Park PLLC served as co-counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center.
Case Documents
- Memorandum -- Varela v. Lamps Plus, Inc. (Ninth Circuit).pdf
- Cert. Petition and Appendix -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- U.S. Chamber Amicus Brief -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Respondent's Brief in Opposition -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Reply Brief for Petitioners -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Brief for Petitioners -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Joint Appendix -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- New England Legal Foundation Amicus Brief -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar Amicus Brief -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Center for Workplace Compliance Amicus Brief -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar Amicus Brief -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- U.S. Chamber Amicus Brief (merits) -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Transcript of Oral Argument -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf
- Opinion -- Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf