Michael Shane Christopher, et al., Petitioners v. Smithkline Beecham Corporation Dba Glaxosmithkline

Decided June 18, 2012. Samuel A. Alito Jr. delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 11-204 · 567 U.S. 142 (2012) · Cited 629 times

Holding

Petitioners qualify as outside salesmen under the most reasonable interpretation of the DOL’s regulations.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

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.

• Auer v. Robbins · 519 U.S. 452 (1997)
• Arnold v. Ben Kanowsky, Inc. · 361 U.S. 388 (1960)
• United States v. Gonzales · 520 U.S. 1 (1997)
• Long Island Care at Home, Ltd. v. Coke · 551 U.S. 158 (2007)
• Burgess v. United States · 553 U.S. 124 (2008)
• Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. · 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
• United States v. Mead Corp. · 533 U.S. 218 (2001)
• Bowen v. Georgetown University Hospital · 488 U.S. 204 (1988)
• Chase Bank USA, N. A. v. McCoy · 562 U.S. 195 (2011)
• Talk America, Inc. v. Michigan Bell Telephone Co. · 564 U.S. 50 (2011)
• Skidmore v. Swift & Co. · 323 U.S. 134 (1944)
• Heckler v. Chaney · 470 U.S. 821 (1985)
• Thomas Jefferson University v. Shalala · 512 U.S. 504 (1994)
• Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council · 490 U.S. 332 (1989)
• Barrentine v. Arkansas-Best Freight System, Inc. · 450 U.S. 728 (1981)
• United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co. · 200 U.S. 321 (1906)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Bell Aerospace Co. · 416 U.S. 267 (1974)
• Martin v. Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission · 499 U.S. 144 (1991)
• Estate of Cowart v. Nicklos Drilling Co. · 505 U.S. 469 (1992)
• Sorrell v. IMS Health Inc. · 564 U.S. 552 (2011)
• United States v. Alpers · 338 U.S. 680 (1950)
• Nixon v. Missouri Municipal League · 541 U.S. 125 (2004)

Cited by

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

• Kisor v. Wilkie · 588 U.S. 558 (2019)
• Perez v. Mortgage Bankers Assn. · 575 U.S. 92 (2015)
• Babb v. Wilkie · 589 U.S. 399 (2020)
• City of Arlington v. Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n · 569 U.S. 290 (2013)
• Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro · 579 U.S. 211 (2016)
• Sandifer v. United States Steel Corp. · 571 U.S. 220 (2014)
• Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center · 568 U.S. 597 (2013)
• Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt · 598 U.S. 39 (2023)
• E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. Carrera · 604 U.S. 45 (2025)

Official text

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

Explore from here

Samuel A. Alito Jr.’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2012). 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).