K Mart Corp. v. Cartier, Inc.
486 U.S. 281 · Decided May 31, 1988 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
K Mart Corp. v. Cartier, Inc. was decided on May 31, 1988 by a vote of 5–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision in part and reversed or vacated it in part. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Trademarks” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 486 U.S. 281 · 108 S. Ct. 1811 · 100 L. Ed. 2d 313 · 1988 U.S. LEXIS 2473
- Docket number
- 86-495
- Decided
- May 31, 1988
- Argued
- October 6, 1987
- Reargued
- April 26, 1988
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority opinion
- Anthony M. Kennedy
- Opinion assigned by
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Trademarks
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 19 U.S.C. § 1526
- Type of law
- Infrequently litigated statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Special concurrence | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Special concurrence | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Dissent | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Dissent | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Special concurrence | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Dissent | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
Full case caption
K Mart Corp. v. Cartier, Inc., et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1987-094, docket 1987-094-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Trademarks”
- K Mart Corporation v. Cartier, Inc.
- Park 'n Fly, Inc. v. Dollar Park and Fly, Inc.
- Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc.
- Inwood Laboratories, Inc. v. Ives Laboratories, Inc.
- Qualitex Company v. Jacobson Products Company, Inc.
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Samara Brothers, Inc.
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Gwaltney of Smithfield, Ltd. v. Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Inc.
- Mullins Coal Co., Inc. of Virginia v. Director
- Westfall v. Erwin et Ux.
- United Savings Association of Texas v. Timbers of Inwood Forest Associates, Ltd.
- United States v. Fausto
- Laborers Health and Welfare Trust Fund for Northern California v. Advanced Lightweight Concrete Co., Inc.
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error