All of the U.S. Supreme Court justices saw Atlantic Marine Construction Co. v. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas the same way, ruling 9-0 generally in the company's favor. But construction attorneys' interpretations of that Dec. 3 decision differ. Lawyers supporting each side call the ruling a victory.
The case originated in a payment dispute between prime contractor Atlantic Marine Construction (AMC), Virginia Beach, Va., and subcontractor J-Crew Management Inc., Killeen, Texas. The central issue before the high court wasn't the money, but the AMC-J-Crew contract's "forum selection" clause. Such clauses determine in which court a party in a contract may bring a lawsuit.