No. 25-1208October Term 2025Before Arguments
Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Petitioner v. Robert Willmore Mallory, as Administrator of the Estate of Robert Thurston Mallory, et al.
from the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County.
Question presented
Whether the Pennsylvania statute providing for the exercise of general jurisdiction over a foreign corporation that voluntarily registered with the Commonwealth and therefore consented to general jurisdiction violates the dormant Commerce Clause.
- Case path
Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
Norfolk Southern is asking the Supreme Court to review a Pennsylvania rule that treats an out-of-state company's business registration as consent to be sued there on any claim. The petition says that rule violates the dormant Commerce Clause, which limits states from burdening interstate trade.
Argument
The case is still at the petition stage. No oral argument is scheduled, and the Court has not yet said whether it will hear the case.
Impact
The answer could affect companies that register to do business in Pennsylvania and people who want to sue them there over disputes tied to other states. For example, a company operating in many states could face broad lawsuits in Pennsylvania just because it registered there.
What is the dispute in Norfolk Southern v. Mallory?
The case asks whether Pennsylvania can treat an out-of-state company's business registration as consent to broad lawsuits there. Norfolk Southern says that burdens interstate trade.
Who is affected if Pennsylvania's rule survives or is blocked?
Out-of-state companies registered in Pennsylvania and people trying to sue them there are most affected. That includes businesses facing claims unrelated to Pennsylvania.
What happens next in Norfolk Southern v. Mallory?
The Supreme Court must decide whether to hear the case. No oral argument is scheduled yet, and no decision window is available.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 17, 2026
- Method
- Methodology