Medtronic, Inc. v. Lora Lohr et Vir

Decided June 26, 1996. John Paul Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 95-754 · 518 U.S. 470 (1996) · Cited 2,291 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.

• Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc. · 505 U.S. 504 (1992)
• Gade v. National Solid Wastes Management Assn. · 505 U.S. 88 (1992)
• Hillsborough County v. Automated Medical Laboratories, Inc. · 471 U.S. 707 (1985)
• Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. · 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
• Hines v. Davidowitz · 312 U.S. 52 (1941)
• Rice v. Santa Fe Elevator Corp. · 331 U.S. 218 (1947)
• CSX Transportation, Inc. v. Easterwood · 507 U.S. 658 (1993)
• Smiley v. Citibank (South Dakota), N. A. · 517 U.S. 735 (1996)
• Barnett Bank of Marion County, N. A. v. Nelson · 517 U.S. 25 (1996)
• Retail Clerks International Ass'n, Local 1625 v. Schermerhorn · 375 U.S. 96 (1963)
• San Diego Building Trades Council v. Garmon · 359 U.S. 236 (1959)
• Allis-Chalmers Corp. v. Lueck · 471 U.S. 202 (1985)
• Florida Lime & Avocado Growers, Inc. v. Paul · 373 U.S. 132 (1963)
• Metropolitan Life Insurance v. Massachusetts · 471 U.S. 724 (1985)
• English v. General Electric Co. · 496 U.S. 72 (1990)
• Fort Halifax Packing Co. v. Coyne · 482 U.S. 1 (1987)
• Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee Corp. · 464 U.S. 238 (1984)
• Freightliner Corp. v. Myrick · 514 U.S. 280 (1995)
• Wisconsin Public Intervenor v. Mortier · 501 U.S. 597 (1991)
• Malone v. White Motor Corp. · 435 U.S. 497 (1978)
• Lawrence County v. Lead-Deadwood School District No. 40-1 · 469 U.S. 256 (1985)

Cited by

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

• Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc. · 552 U.S. 312 (2008)
• Wyeth v. Levine · 555 U.S. 555 (2009)
• Geier v. American Honda Motor Co. · 529 U.S. 861 (2000)
• Altria Group, Inc. v. Good · 555 U.S. 70 (2008)
• Bates v. Dow Agrosciences LLC · 544 U.S. 431 (2005)
• Lorillard Tobacco Co. v. Reilly · 533 U.S. 525 (2001)
• Watters v. Wachovia Bank, N. A. · 550 U.S. 1 (2007)
• Buckman Co. v. Plaintiffs' Legal Committee · 531 U.S. 341 (2001)
• Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela · 587 U.S. 176 (2019)
• Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. · 577 U.S. 312 (2016)
• McDonald v. City of Chicago · 561 U.S. 742 (2010)
• Gonzales v. Oregon · 546 U.S. 243 (2006)
• Chamber of Commerce of United States of America v. Whiting · 563 U.S. 582 (2011)
• Bruesewitz v. Wyeth LLC · 562 U.S. 223 (2011)
• City of Columbus v. Ours Garage & Wrecker Service, Inc. · 536 U.S. 424 (2002)
• Engine Manufacturers Ass'n v. South Coast Air Quality Management District · 541 U.S. 246 (2004)
• Hill v. Colorado · 530 U.S. 703 (2000)
• Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Dabit · 547 U.S. 71 (2006)
• United States v. Locke · 529 U.S. 89 (2000)
• El Al Israel Airlines, Ltd. v. Tsui Yuan Tseng · 525 U.S. 155 (1999)
• Ramos v. Louisiana · 590 U.S. 83 (2020)
• New York v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission · 535 U.S. 1 (2002)

Official text

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

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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).