No. 25-769

Lorillard Tobacco Company v. Marita R. Sciarrotta, Director of the New Jersey Division of Taxation

Lower Court: New Jersey
Docketed: 2025-12-31
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: commerce-clause corporate-taxation due-process interstate-commerce royalty-payments tax-deductibility
Key Terms:
DueProcess Trademark JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-27
Question Presented (from Petition)

(1) Whether New Jersey's scheme for taxing royalty
payments, that conditions the deductibility of
related-party royalty payments on the extent of
the royalty recipient's in-state activity, burdens
and discriminates against interstate commerce in
violation of the Commerce Clause.

(2) Whether New Jersey's scheme for taxing related party
royalty payments, that limits the deductibility of the
royalty expense to the extent the royalty recipient
pays tax in the state on the royalty income, indirectly
taxes out-of-state activity with no connection to New
Jersey in violation of the Commerce or Due Process
Clauses.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether New Jersey's corporate business tax scheme for taxing royalty payments conditions deductibility on the extent of the royalty recipient's in-state activity and thereby burdens interstate commerce

Docket Entries

2026-02-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/27/2026.
2026-01-14
Waiver of right of respondent Marita R. Sciarrotta, Director of the New Jersey Division of Taxation to respond filed.
2025-12-24
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 30, 2026)

Attorneys

Lorillard Tobacco Company
Mitchell A. NewmarkBlank Rome LLP, Petitioner
Marita R. Sciarrotta, Director of the New Jersey Division of Taxation
Joseph A. PalumboState of New Jersey, Dept. of Public Safety,, Respondent