However, minutes later, the judge realized that it is impossible for the damages to be $0 while Dietz won – the jury returned an invalid verdict.

The judge collectively questioned the jury, was satisfied with the response, and gave out clarifying instructions.

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored the majority opinion affirming the Ninth Circuit's judgment.

The Court noted that since in the era of smartphones and the internet it is not uncommon for people to instinctively check their phones.

In his dissent, Thomas argued that the common law rule preventing an already-discharged jury to be re-empaneled should control the case.