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State of Texas v. Pfizer — 5th Cir. (argued September 1, 2026)

No. 25-10182 Argued September 1, 2026 Published September 2, 2026

The Fifth Circuit considers whether the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP Act, shields Pfizer from Texas's consumer-protection suit accusing the company of misleading the public about its COVID-19 vaccine. The district court dismissed the suit on immunity, federal-preemption, and Texas-law pleading grounds. The judges also ask whether the challenged statements were closely enough connected to Pfizer's work under a federal vaccine contract to let Pfizer move the suit from state to federal court. Texas seeks reversal; Pfizer seeks affirmance.

State of Texas v. Pfizer (No. 25-10182) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued September 1, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-10182_09-01-2026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?docket=25-10182
Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-09-01
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-10182
File-stamped district court dismissal order — document mirror:https://www.druganddevicelawblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2025/01/Texas-v.-Pfizer-dismissal.pdf
Texas complaint — Office of the Texas Attorney General:https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Pfizer%20Vaccine%20Petition%20Filed.pdf
Texas notice of appeal — Office of the Texas Attorney General:https://www.oag.state.tx.us/sites/default/files/images/press/OAG%20Pfizer%20Notice%20of%20Appeal.pdf
42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d (PREP Act) — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section247d-6d
PREP Act overview — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/technical-resources/resource/1712/public-readiness-and-emncy-preparedness-act-prep-act
28 U.S.C. § 1442 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title28-section1442
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-813_3e04.pdf
Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act — Texas Constitution and Statutes:https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/Docs/bc/htm/bc.17.htm
21 U.S.C. § 355 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title21-section355
21 U.S.C. § 337 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title21-section337
21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title21-section360bbb-3
Emergency Use Authorization — U.S. Food and Drug Administration:https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization
Texas appellant brief — file-stamped Fifth Circuit filing mirror:https://childrenshealthdefense.org/wp-content/uploads/Texas-v.-Pfizer-Appellate-Brief.pdf
Pfizer motion to dismiss — file-stamped district court filing mirror:https://www.druganddevicelawblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2025/01/Texas-v.-Pfizer-Brief-ISO-dismissal.pdf
Pfizer notice of removal — file-stamped district court filing mirror:https://childrenshealthdefense.org/wp-content/uploads/Pfizer-Notice-of-Removal.pdf
Johnathan Stone — State Bar of Texas:https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?ContactID=312718&Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=%2FCustomsource%2FMemberDirectory%2FMemberDirectoryDetail.cfm
Kannon Shanmugam — Davis Polk:https://www.davispolk.com/lawyers/kannon-shanmugam
Kannon Shanmugam Davis Polk filing — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-1366/417324/20260727105100225_2026.07.27%20Extension%20request%20final.pdf

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