Trinova Corporation v. Michigan Department of Treasury
498 U.S. 358 · Decided February 19, 1991 · 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
Trinova Corporation v. Michigan Department of Treasury was decided on February 19, 1991 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “State or local government tax” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 498 U.S. 358 · 111 S. Ct. 818 · 112 L. Ed. 2d 884 · 1991 U.S. LEXIS 842
- Docket number
- 89-1106
- Decided
- February 19, 1991
- Argued
- October 1, 1990
- 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
- 6–2
- Majority opinion
- Anthony M. Kennedy
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- State or local government tax
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)
- Type of law
- Constitution
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Dissent | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Special concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: David H. Souter.
Full case caption
Trinova Corporation v. Michigan Department of Treasury
SCDB identifiers: case 1990-030, docket 1990-030-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “State or local government tax”
- Ford Motor Credit Company, Inc. v. Department of Revenue
- Ashland Oil, Inc. v. Caryl
- National Mines Corp. v. Caryl
- McKesson Corporation v. Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
- American Trucking Associations, Inc. v. Maurice Smith
- Quill Corporation v. North Dakota by and Through Its Tax CommissionerAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)
- State of Wyoming v. State of OklahomaLaw held unconstitutional
- Fort Gratiot Sanitary Landfill, Inc. v. Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesLaw held unconstitutional
- New York v. United StatesLaw held unconstitutional
- Healy v. the Beer InstituteAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
- Bendix Autolite Corp. v. Midwesco Enterprises, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- C & a Carbone, Inc. v. Town of ClarkstownLaw held unconstitutional
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Mercedel W. Miles v. Apex Marine Corporation
- Jay Palmer v. BRG of Georgia, Inc.
- Arcadia v. Ohio Power Company
- Coy R. Grogan v. Frank J. Garner, Jr.
- McDermott International, Inc. v. Jon C. Wilander
- Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Cleopatra Haslip
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