American Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 4 (1999)

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Cite as: 526 U. S. 40 (1999)

Opinion of the Court

Michael W. McConnell argued the cause for petitioners. With him on the briefs were Alan E. Untereiner, Robert McL. Boote, Burt M. Rublin, and Robert E. Kelly, Jr.

Malcolm L. Stewart argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging reversal. On the brief were Solicitor General Waxman, Assistant Attorney General Hunger, Deputy Solicitor General Kneedler, Jeffrey A. Lamken, Barbara C. Biddle, and Jacob M. Lewis.

Loralyn McKinley argued the cause for respondents. With her on the brief for respondents Sullivan et al. were Alan B. Epstein and Thomas J. O'Brien. Jan M. Ritchie, Patricia Farrell Kerelo, Joseph W. Cunningham, and Mark Pfeiffer filed a brief for respondent School District of Philadelphia.*

Chief Justice Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the Court.†

Pennsylvania provides in its workers' compensation regime that an employer or insurer may withhold payment for disputed medical treatment pending an independent review to determine whether the treatment is reasonable and necessary. We hold that the insurers are not "state actors" under the Fourteenth Amendment, and that the Pennsylvania re*Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed for the American Insurance Association et al. by Mark F. Horning; for the National Association of Waterfront Employers et al. by F. Edwin Froelich and Charles T. Carroll; and for the Washington Legal Foundation by Ronald D. Maines, Daniel J. Popeo, and Paul D. Kamenar.

Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for the American Association of Retired Persons et al. by Gil Deford, Sarah Lenz Lock, Michael Schuster, Jeanne Finberg, Vicki Gottlich, and Judith L. Lichtman; for the Pennsylvania Federation of Injured Workers by Roderick M. Hills, Jr., and Richard W. McHugh; for the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association et al. by Michael J. Foley, Mark S. Mandell, Jeffrey White, and Richard A. Kimnach; and for Carl Kreschollek by David M. Linker.

†Justice Scalia joins Parts I and II of this opinion.

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