Robertson v. Wegmann, Executor, et al.

Decided May 31, 1978. Thurgood Marshall delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 77-178 · 436 U.S. 584 (1978) · Cited 729 times

Holding

The District Court should have adopted the Louisiana survivorship law, which would have caused Shaw's action to abate.

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 6–3.

“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.

• Moor v. County of Alameda · 411 U.S. 693 (1973)
• Carey v. Piphus · 435 U.S. 247 (1978)
• Sullivan v. Little Hunting Park, Inc. · 396 U.S. 229 (1969)
• Younger v. Harris · 401 U.S. 37 (1971)
• Imbler v. Pachtman · 424 U.S. 409 (1976)
• Monroe v. Pape · 365 U.S. 167 (1961)
• Pierson v. Ray · 386 U.S. 547 (1967)
• Griffin v. Breckenridge · 403 U.S. 88 (1971)
• Textile Workers v. Lincoln Mills of Ala. · 353 U.S. 448 (1957)
• Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, Inc. · 421 U.S. 454 (1975)
• United States v. Price · 383 U.S. 787 (1966)
• Clearfield Trust Co. v. United States · 318 U.S. 363 (1943)
• International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America v. Hoosier Cardinal Corp. · 383 U.S. 696 (1966)
• Michigan Central Railroad v. Vreeland · 227 U.S. 59 (1913)
• United States v. Little Lake Misere Land Co. · 412 U.S. 580 (1973)

Cited by

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

• Carlson v. Green · 446 U.S. 14 (1980)
• Burnett v. Grattan · 468 U.S. 42 (1984)
• Board of Regents of Univ. of State of NY v. Tomanio · 446 U.S. 478 (1980)
• Chardon v. Fumero Soto · 462 U.S. 650 (1983)
• Wilson v. Garcia · 471 U.S. 261 (1985)
• Burks v. Lasker · 441 U.S. 471 (1979)
• Smith v. Wade · 461 U.S. 30 (1983)
• City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc. · 453 U.S. 247 (1981)
• Allen v. McCurry · 449 U.S. 90 (1980)
• Owen v. City of Independence · 445 U.S. 622 (1980)
• Felder v. Casey · 487 U.S. 131 (1988)
• United States v. Kimbell Foods, Inc. · 440 U.S. 715 (1979)
• O'Melveny & Myers v. Federal Deposit Insurance · 512 U.S. 79 (1994)
• Countyof Oneida v. Oneida Indian Nation of NY · 470 U.S. 226 (1985)
• Adams Fruit Co. v. Barrett · 494 U.S. 638 (1990)

Official text

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

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1978). 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).