International Paper Co. v. Ouellette et al.

Decided January 21, 1987. Lewis Franklin Powell Jr. delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 85-1233 · 479 U.S. 481 (1987) · Cited 535 times

We don’t yet publish a summary of this opinion — read the official text below for the Court’s holding and reasoning.

How the Justices voted

Decided 5–4.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• City of Milwaukee v. Illinois · 451 U.S. 304 (1981)
• Illinois v. City of Milwaukee · 406 U.S. 91 (1972)
• Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee Corp. · 464 U.S. 238 (1984)
• Hillsborough County v. Automated Medical Laboratories, Inc. · 471 U.S. 707 (1985)
• Allstate Insurance v. Hague · 449 U.S. 302 (1981)
• Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Manufacturing Co. · 313 U.S. 487 (1941)
• Rice v. Santa Fe Elevator Corp. · 331 U.S. 218 (1947)
• Day & Zimmermann, Inc. v. Challoner · 423 U.S. 3 (1975)
• Young v. Masci · 289 U.S. 253 (1933)
• Erie Railroad v. Tompkins · 304 U.S. 64 (1938)
• Hines v. Davidowitz · 312 U.S. 52 (1941)
• Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc. · 465 U.S. 770 (1984)
• Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Shutts · 472 U.S. 797 (1985)
• Middlesex County Sewerage Authority v. National Sea Clammers Assn. · 453 U.S. 1 (1981)
• Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. State Energy Resources Conservation & Development Commission · 461 U.S. 190 (1983)
• Perez. v. Campbell · 402 U.S. 637 (1971)
• United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc. · 474 U.S. 121 (1985)
• Huron Portland Cement Co. v. City of Detroit · 362 U.S. 440 (1960)
• Ray v. Atlantic Richfield Co. · 435 U.S. 151 (1978)
• Chicago & North Western Transportation Co. v. Kalo Brick & Tile Co. · 450 U.S. 311 (1981)
• Environmental Protection Agency v. California Ex Rel. State Water Resources Control Board · 426 U.S. 200 (1976)
• City of Rome v. United States · 446 U.S. 156 (1980)
• Michigan Canners & Freezers Assn., Inc. v. Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Bd. · 467 U.S. 461 (1984)
• Watson v. Employers Liability Assurance Corp. · 348 U.S. 66 (1954)
• Askew v. American Waterways Operators, Inc. · 411 U.S. 325 (1973)
• Hinderlider v. La Plata River & Cherry Creek Ditch Co. · 304 U.S. 92 (1938)
• Ohio v. Wyandotte Chemicals Corp. · 401 U.S. 493 (1971)
• Missouri v. Illinois · 200 U.S. 496 (1906)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Arkansas v. Oklahoma · 503 U.S. 91 (1992)
• Geier v. American Honda Motor Co. · 529 U.S. 861 (2000)
• Wyeth v. Levine · 555 U.S. 555 (2009)
• Gade v. National Solid Wastes Management Assn. · 505 U.S. 88 (1992)
• Morales v. Trans World Airlines, Inc. · 504 U.S. 374 (1992)
• Rapanos v. United States · 547 U.S. 715 (2006)
• Chamber of Commerce of United States of America v. Whiting · 563 U.S. 582 (2011)
• California Coastal Commission v. Granite Rock Co. · 480 U.S. 572 (1987)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

Explore from here

Lewis Franklin Powell Jr.’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: the U.S. Reports via govinfo.gov; authoring Justice and vote lineup from the Supreme Court Database (Washington University). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).