K Mart Corporation v. Cartier, Inc.
485 U.S. 176 · Decided March 7, 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 Corporation v. Cartier, Inc. was decided on March 7, 1988 by a vote of 5–3. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Trademarks” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 485 U.S. 176 · 108 S. Ct. 950 · 99 L. Ed. 2d 151 · 1988 U.S. LEXIS 1114
- Docket number
- 86-495
- Decided
- March 7, 1988
- Argued
- October 6, 1987
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–3
- Majority opinion
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- Opinion assigned by
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Trademarks
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 28 U.S.C. § 1331
- 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. | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Dissent | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Dissent | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Anthony M. Kennedy.
Full case caption
K Mart Corporation v. Cartier, Inc., et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 1987-043, docket 1987-043-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Trademarks”
- K Mart Corp. 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.
Cases on the same legal provision: 28 U.S.C. § 1331
- Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Graham
- Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Thompson
- National Farmers Union Insurance Cos. v. Crow Tribe of Indians
- Jerome B. Grubart, Inc. v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company
- Ruhrgas Ag v. Marathon Oil Company
- Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Texaco 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