State lawsuits over gas markets
Oneok v. Learjet
In brief
The Supreme Court upheld the Ninth Circuit: the Natural Gas Act does not block the retail buyers' state antitrust claims.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 7-2 · April 21, 2015 · Opinion by Justice Breyer
- What it’s about
- Learjet and other retail gas buyers sued Oneok and other energy traders, alleging practices that inflated natural-gas prices.
- Who it affects
- The Natural Gas Act does not bar Learjet and the other retail buyers' state antitrust claims.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court agreed with the Ninth Circuit that the Natural Gas Act did not bar their state antitrust claims (preempt them), even though the claims concerned practices affecting wholesale gas markets.
Learjet and other retail gas buyers alleged that Oneok and other energy traders used practices that inflated natural-gas prices.
The Natural Gas Act covers interstate gas transportation and wholesale sales; these buyers purchased gas at retail and sued under state antitrust laws.
Question presented
Does the Natural Gas Act pre-empt state-law claims challenging industry practices that directly affect the wholesale natural gas market when those claims are asserted by litigants who purchased gas in retail transactions?
What the Court decided
Holding
Respondents’ state-law antitrust claims are not within the field of matters pre-empted by the Natural Gas Act. 715 F. 3d 716, affirmed.
- Result
- Affirmed
The vote
From the opinions
“The Natural Gas Act divides responsibility over trade in natural gas between federal and state regulators.”
What's next
Whether the buyers can prove their state antitrust claims remains unresolved; the Court decided only that the Natural Gas Act does not block them.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
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Opinion added: Oneok
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.