Russel Bruesewitz, et al. Petitioners v. Wyeth Llc, Fka Wyeth, Inc., Fka Wyeth Laboratories, et al.

Decided February 22, 2011. Antonin Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 09-152 · 562 U.S. 223 (2011) · Cited 334 times

Holding

The NCVIA pre-empts all design-defect claims against vaccine manufacturers brought by plaintiffs seeking compensation for injury or death caused by a vaccine’s side effects.

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 6–2.

“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.

• Bates v. Dow Agrosciences LLC · 544 U.S. 431 (2005)
• Jones v. United States · 526 U.S. 227 (1999)
• Wyeth v. Levine · 555 U.S. 555 (2009)
• Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Services, Inc. · 545 U.S. 546 (2005)
• Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr · 518 U.S. 470 (1996)
• Garcia v. United States · 469 U.S. 70 (1984)
• Barnhart v. Peabody Coal Co. · 537 U.S. 149 (2003)
• Skidmore v. Swift & Co. · 323 U.S. 134 (1944)
• District of Columbia v. Heller · 554 U.S. 570 (2008)
• Morissette v. United States · 342 U.S. 246 (1952)
• United States v. United Mine Workers of America · 330 U.S. 258 (1947)
• Duncan v. Walker · 533 U.S. 167 (2001)
• Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill · 437 U.S. 153 (1978)
• TRW Inc. v. Andrews · 534 U.S. 19 (2001)
• United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co. · 200 U.S. 321 (1906)
• Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee Corp. · 464 U.S. 238 (1984)
• Geier v. American Honda Motor Co. · 529 U.S. 861 (2000)
• Sullivan v. Finkelstein · 496 U.S. 617 (1990)
• Altria Group, Inc. v. Good · 555 U.S. 70 (2008)
• McDermott International, Inc. v. Wilander · 498 U.S. 337 (1991)
• Merck & Co. v. Reynolds · 559 U.S. 633 (2010)
• Erlenbaugh v. United States · 409 U.S. 239 (1972)
• Shalala v. Whitecotton · 514 U.S. 268 (1995)

Cited by

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

• Sebelius v. Cloer · 569 U.S. 369 (2013)
• Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media · 588 U.S. 427 (2019)
• Kisor v. Wilkie · 588 U.S. 558 (2019)
• Nat'l Labor Relations Bd. v. SW Gen., Inc. · 580 U.S. 288 (2017)
• Lockhart v. United States · 577 U.S. 347 (2016)
• Iancu v. Brunetti · 588 U.S. 388 (2019)
• United States v. Woods · 571 U.S. 31 (2013)
• Microsoft Corp. v. i4i Ltd. Partnership · 564 U.S. 91 (2011)
• Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of Chehalis Reservation · 594 U.S. 338 (2021)
• EPA v. Calumet Shreveport Refining, L.L.C. · 605 U.S. 627 (2025)

Official text

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

Explore from here

Antonin Scalia’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2011). 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).