Douglas Oil Co. v. Petrol Stops Northwest

441 U.S. 211 (1979)

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Douglas Oil Co. v. Petrol Stops Northwest

United States Supreme Court
441 U.S. 211 (1979)

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Facts

Petrol Stops Northwest and other gasoline retailers (plaintiffs) filed a civil suit in the Arizona federal district court against Douglas Oil Company of California and other oil companies (defendants) for alleged price fixing. At about the same time, a grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California investigated criminal allegations against the defendant oil companies. The retailers successfully moved the California judge to order the grand jury transcripts to be released under certain protective conditions. The oil companies appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which affirmed the California judge's order. The oil companies appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Powell, J.)

Dissent (Stevens, J.)

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