No. 20-889

The Sherwin-Williams Company v. Delaware County, Pennsylvania, et al.

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2021-01-05
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: article-iii-standing chilled-speech civil-rights constitutional-rights due-process first-amendment free-speech government-action standing
Key Terms:
DueProcess FirstAmendment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-04-23
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Third Circuit violated clearly established precedent, in conflict with other Circuits, in denying Article III standing by considering the merits of Petitioner's due process claim

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Fundamental in this Court’s Article III jurisprudence is the principle that the federal courts are open to hear federal claims for declaratory and injunctive relief when plaintiffs face a genuine threat of adverse government action. Yet, Petitioner The Sherwin-Williams Company was rejected at the courthouse door for lack of Article III standing after filing such an action to resolve ongoing and imminent violations of its federal constitutional rights. The claims derive from Respondent Delaware County’s use of contingency-fee counsel to bring a_ public nuisance lawsuit premised on Petitioner’s First Amendment protected activity. The County’s suit is part of a growing trend where governments delegate police power to counsel, creating bias or an appearance of bias in government decision-making. It also reflects a wave of litigation hinging liability on First Amendment protected activity, such as lawful advertising and participation in trade groups. Both trends have confounded the courts and evaded federal review. The questions presented are: 1. Whether the Third Circuit violated clearly established precedent, in conflict with other Circuits, in denying Article III standing by considering the merits of Petitioner’s due process claim; and 2. Whether an_ alleged injury-in-fact is established for purposes of Article III standing where, as this Court and other Circuits have held, the government’s genuine threat to impose liability on a specific target based on its prior First Amendment conduct chills constitutionally protected speech.

Docket Entries

2021-04-26
Petition DENIED.
2021-04-07
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/23/2021.
2021-04-01
Waiver of right of respondent County of Delaware, Pennsylvania, et al. to respond filed.
2021-01-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 4, 2021 to April 5, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-01-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 5, 2021.
2021-01-06
Letter pursuant to Rule 35.3 and Rule 12.6 filed. (Letter dated December 28, 2020)
2020-12-28
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 4, 2021)

Attorneys

County of Delaware, Pennsylvania, et al.
David Samuel SenoffFirst Law Strategy Group, LLC, Respondent
David Samuel SenoffFirst Law Strategy Group, LLC, Respondent
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Leon F. DeJulius Jr.Jones Day, Petitioner
Leon F. DeJulius Jr.Jones Day, Petitioner