Document: 534 U.S. 61122 S.Ct. 515151 L.Ed.2d 456 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION, PETITIONERv.JOHN E. MALESKO No. 00-860. Argued October 1, 2001Decided November 27, 2001 Syllabus Petitioner Correctional Services Corporation (CSC), under contract with federal Bureau Prisons (BOP), operates Le Marquis Community Center (Le Marquis), a facility houses inmates. After respondent, inmate afflicted heart condition limiting his ability climb stairs, was assigned bedroom on Marquis' fifth floor, CSC instituted policy requiring inmates residing below sixth floor use stairs rather than elevator. Respondent exempted from this policy. But when employee forbade respondent elevator reach bedroom, he climbed suffered attack, and fell. Subsequently, filed damages action against individual defendants, alleging, inter alia, they were negligent refusing him The District treated complaint as raising claims Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 388, which recognized for first time an implied private officers alleged have violated citizen's constitutional rights. In dismissing suit, relied FDIC Meyer, 510 471, reasoning, only maintained individual, not corporate entity. Second Circuit reversed pertinent part remanded, remarking, respect CSC, Meyer expressly declined expand category defendants whom Bivens-type actions brought include agents, but also agencies. court reasoned such entities should held liable accomplish important goal providing remedy violations. Held: Bivens' limited holding extended confer right acting color law. Court's authority imply new tort, authorized by statute, anchored its general jurisdiction decide all cases arising exercised Bivens. From discussion subsequent cases, it clear respondent's claim fundamentally different anything has heretofore recognized. 30 years jurisprudence, twice, provide otherwise nonexistent cause acted unconstitutionally, e.g., Carlson Green, 446 14, plaintiff who lacked alternative harms caused officer's unconstitutional conduct, Davis Passman, 442 228, 245. Where circumstances present, consistently rejected invitations extend Bivens, often reasons foreclose extension here. See, Bush Lucas, 462 367. purpose deter officers, agency, committing clear, threat suit individual's employer kind deterrence contemplated U.S., at 485. case is, every meaningful sense, same. For if defendant available claimants will focus their collection efforts it, directly responsible injury. On Meyer's logic, inferring tort entity like therefore foreclosed. Respondent's corporations law pay commit best way discourage future no relevance concerned solely deterring officers' acts. There reason here consider extending beyond core premise. To begin with, prisoners enjoy remedy. If prisoner BOP alleges deprivation, lies offending officer. Whether makes sense impose asymmetrical liability costs prison facilities alone question Congress decide. Nor situation shoes lack effective remedies. It conceded oral argument remedies least great, many respects greater, could had example, parallel unavailable housed government facilities. Inmates position full access remedial mechanisms established BOP, including suits injunctive relief-long proper means preventing unconstitutionally-and grievances through BOP's Administrative Remedy Program. Pp. 4-12. 229 F.3d 374, reversed. ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT APPEALS FOR SECOND CIRCUIT Rehnquist, J., delivered Court, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, JJ., joined. Opinion Chief Justice Rehnquist Court. 1 We whether 388 (1971), allow recovery corporation operating halfway house Prisons. decline so 2 Corrections Centers detainees.1 Since late 1980's, operated located New York City. John Malesko former who, having been convicted securities fraud December 1992, sentenced term 18 months' imprisonment supervision BOP. During imprisonment, diagnosed prescription medication. engage physical activity, climbing stairs. 3 February 1993, transferred where serve remainder sentence. living quarters floor. about March 1994, petitioner staircase travel first-floor lobby rooms. dispute account condition. 28, however, Jorge Urena, petitioner, fifth-floor bedroom. protested specially permitted access, Urena adamant. then fell, injuring left ear. 4 Three after incident occurred, pro se unnamed employees Southern York. Two later, now counsel, amended named 10 Doe defendants. "negligent failing obtain requisite medication [respondent's] further [respondent] elevator." App. 12. injured ear aggravated pre-existing "[a]s result negligence Defendants." Ibid. demanded judgment sum $1 million compensatory damages, $3 anticipated punitive "for and/or [j]ury determine." Id., 13. 5 supra, dismissed entirety. Pet. Cert. 20a. Relying our decision 471 (1994), "a individual," thus With statute limitations grounds. 6 Appeals affirmed part, remanded. 374 (2000). That dismissal barred limitations. challenged ruling, parties agree might lie presented remarked " 'to agencies well.' F.3d, 378 (quoting 484 (emphasis deleted)). "accomplish ... violations." 380. 7 granted certiorari, 532 902 (2001), reverse.2 8 we asks He contends must recognize wherever there matter victim deprivation elsewhere, proposed would significantly principal wrongdoer, employee. refused substantive liabilities circumstances, do 9 Our "arising Constitution, laws, treaties States." 28 U.S.C. 1331. Schweiker Chilicky, 487 412, 420-421 (1988); 367, 373-374 (1983). Fourth Amendment violation bring money court. acknowledged never provided "the does words enforcement award consequences violation." 396. Nonetheless, relying largely earlier decisions implying into statutes, see id., 397 (citing J. I. Case Co. Borak, 377 426, 433 (1964)); 402-403, n. (Harlan, concurring judgment) ("The Borak especially example exercise judicial power accord appropriate absence express statutory authorization action"), finding "no special factors counseling hesitation affirmative Congress," 395-396, found Amendment.3 decade following Due Process Clause Fifth Amendment, 228 (1979), Cruel Unusual Punishment Eighth 14 (1980). both Carlson, applied recognizing abuse authority. Davis, inferred chiefly because deprivation. 245 ("For nothing"). officials plaintiff's Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) States. 18-23. insufficient acts individuals. 21 ("Because recoverable individuals, more deterrent FTCA remedy"). "crystal clear" intended "parallel" "complementary" sources liability. 19-20. 11 context create Government First employment. Although opportunity fully violation, administrative review crafted redress thereby foreclosed need fashion new, judicially action. 378, 386-388. Congress' institutional competence crafting relief aggrieved "special factor creation remedy." See 389 (noting "Congress far better evaluate impact species litigation between employees"). reached similar military context, Chappell Wallace, 296, 304 (1983), even civilian personnel, Stanley, 483 669, 681 (1987). 12 infer due process handling Social Security applications. observed "decisions responded cautiously suggestions contexts." 421. light these decisions, noted "[t]he necessarily courts 421-422. simply want challenging did matter, obviously offer prospect injuries go unredressed." 425. Bush, "existing complete plaintiff"); 683 ("[I]t irrelevant analysis laws currently books afford Stanley adequate injuries" (internal quotation marks omitted)). So long avenue some redress, bedrock principles separation powers imposition 425-427. 13 Most recently, unanimously invitation permit though agency-because waived sovereign immunity-was amenable suit. 484-486. emphasized officer," agency. 485 original) 21). given choice, plaintiffs sue agency instead assert qualified immunity defense. extent less incentive effects lost." Accordingly, "would mean evisceration remedy, extension." factors" counseled "potentially enormous financial burden" entail. 486. discussion, urged cases. jurisprudence conduct. here.4 15 adequately purposes immunity, 474, 485, indemnified employing entity, 486, pursuant entity's policy, 473-474. ("If officers. [T]he lost"). TXO Production Corp. Alliance Resources Corp., 509 443, 464 (1993) (plurality opinion) (recognizing fare much worse juries individuals); 490-492 (O'Connor, dissenting) (same) authorities). logic 16 rationale, still necessary advance argues respond market pressures make without regard obligations, payment harms. so, conduct policy-making Deposit Insurance Corporation; led inception based premise, 17 us premise here.5 officer, defense immunity. employer, individual; sufficient, timely pursue. Congress, us, confronted Cf. 410 people shoes, nothing"); nothing" quotaton Tr. Oral Arg. 41-42, 43. Brief Opposition demonstrates much, since arguably quintessential negligence. added). construed claim, presumably Amendment. accepted theory liability, sought ground. somewhat ironic, heightened "deliberate indifference" standard Estelle Gamble, 429 97, 104 (1976), considerably difficult prevail ordinary negligence, see, Farmer Brennan, 511 825, 835 (1994) ("[D]eliberate indifference describes state mind blameworthy negligence"). 19 altogether "inconsistent hostile" 393-394. When officer appears door requests entry, one cannot always expected resist. 394 ("[A] enter likely unlock door"). Yet resistance trespass privacy. Therefore, "there remain[ed] resistance, amount crime." 395 citation omitted). Such apply whose deliberate requires official action, strategic choice.6 20 Program (ARP). CFR 542.10 (2001) (explaining ARP seek issue relates aspect confinement"). program provides yet another allegedly policies can attention prevented recurring. And unlike considered vehicle altering unconstitutionally. sum, search Davis. lacking, Carlson. seeks marked contexts engaging wrongdoing. caution toward repeatedly three decades, forecloses 22 23 ordered. 24 opinion, 25 Stevens, dissenting Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer, Notes: hardly unique regard. 1981 exclusively contracts institutions local governments operation help reintegrate society. for-profit charitable organizations Volunteers America (which Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, York, Texas), Salvation Army (Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, Progress House Association (Oregon), Triangle (Illinois), Catholic (Pennsylvania). Courts divided entities. Compare Hammons Norfolk 156 701, 705 (CA6 1998) ("Nothing prohibits engages Kauffman Anglo-American School Sofia, 1223, 1227 (CADC 1994) ("[Under] conclusion public follows equivalent either"). hold today does. retreated previous willingness one. Central Bank Denver, N. A. Interstate A., 164, 188 (1994); Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Inc. Lewis, 444 11, 15-16 (1979); Cannon University Chicago, 441 677, 688 717-718 (Rehnquist, concurring). Just last Term "abandoned" view decades ago, "revert" understanding causes sway 40 ago." Alexander Sandoval, 275, 287 (2001). Stevens' implicate "extension" post, 2, (dissenting opinion), come surprise twice characterized own "extending corporations." 381 (CA2 2000). ibid. ("Bivens corporations"). Stevens favor portends "tragic consequence[s]," 6, "jeopardize[s] rights . tens thousands inmates," 7. refers examples suggesting correctional providers routinely take advantage control. Post, 7, Legal Aid Society Amicus Curiae 8-25). American Civil Liberties Union 14-16, discussing "abundant" abuse). examples, prisoners-prisoners already 42 1983. true imperatives strong demand abuses prevalent facilities, trend just opposite surprising oversight monitoring 4-5, 24-26, mention. directed contractor very thing circumstance Boyle Technologies 500 (1988). record basis 26 Thomas joins, concurring. 27 I join narrow interpretation rationale logically produce application case. dissent doubtless correct broad application, am inclined (and inclined) construe broadly. joining that, narrowest holding. not. relic heady days assumed common-law action-decreeing them "implied" mere existence prohibition. As points out, ante, 5, 3, abandoned invent "implications" field, greater abandon "implication" imagined Constitution repudiated Congress. limit two follow-on (Davis (1980)) precise involved. 29 Breyer join, dissenting. affirmatively answered reserved Bell Hood, 327 678 (1946): "by agent gives rise consequent upon conduct." Nearly (1980), gave despite fact (FTCA). stated: "Bivens victims recover conferring right." U. S., 31 decided conceivable violation.1 never, violations actionable 825 McCarthy Madigan, 503 140 (1992). ever suggested agents impunity. 32 Amendment.2 committed agent-a employed perform functions performed Government. Thus, exception straightforward "core premise," 9. point evident prior recent correctly performing functions, human doing actions.3 33 concluded suable lead outcome today. case, discuss nor suggest viewed differently ones. Rather, drew distinction "federal agents" "an Government," 473. Indeed, repeated references Corporation's (FDIC) status agency" FDIC's affinity sovereign. expressed concern agencies, FDIC, "creat[e] potentially burden Government." kept involved waiver which, sort lawsuit presumed impossible: direct 485.4 34 Moreover, 367 412 (1988), dealing well-recognized procedural process, noted, alleging contexts, others." 484, Not present falls heartland claims.5 35 Because dispose rationales underlying Bivens-namely, deterrence-are serving agent. However, common buttressed supported leads favorably agents. 36 First, enjoys distinguish characterizes progeny "any remedy," 8. himself theoretically possible. FTCA. incorrect portray lacking relief, substantially wider array non-Bivens disposal plaintiffs.6 sufficient justification closing forum here, corporation, alternative, well.7 37 ironic relies heavily assumption remedies-primarily court-are respondent. 10-12. Like Harlan, think "entirely compensable according uniform rules law, large element event control scope defenses liability." 409 (opinion judgment). aside undermining uniformity, reliance jeopardize protection State comparable 10-11, employees, Equal Protection Clauses, find Even able degree pleaded traditional torts situated.8 38 Second, goals served permitting Ante, 8-9 Meyer). seriously maintained, employers value employees. previously "organizational structure" prisons "is competitive normally firms adjust behavior response incentives provide-pressures departments." Richardson McKnight, 521 399, (1997). readily distinguishable Meyer. tragic consequence today's managers privately custodial adopt cost-saving custody.9 39 raises imposing "asymmetrical facilities," 10, Government-run unfair "officer's employer," Permitting symmetry: unable (i.e., Government), primary corporation). creates asymmetry-between Under 1983 rights, Lugar Edmondson Oil Co., 457 922, 936-937 (1982) (permitting exercising "state denies prisoner's counterpart. contours identical. sound jurisprudential parallelism, standards actors incongruous confusing." Butz Economou, 438 478, 499 (1978) omitted); cf. Bolling Sharpe, 347 497, (1954) ("In states maintaining racially segregated schools, unthinkable same lesser duty Government"). parallelism furthered pressed apparent critical thoughtful opinions Harlan contemporaries, erroneous statement "should extended" agent, driving force behind disagreement itself.10 why improper influenced predisposition. legislative materials cited 19-20, effectively ratified remedy; surely abolish it. rule over accorded Members endorsed announced. enforce settled revise notions 41 respectfully dissent. (1983); 296 sufficiency done so. 55 (acknowledgment violation). Its petition certiorari single law." (i). Schowengerdt General Dynamics 823 F.2d 1328 (CA9 1987); Reuber 750 1039 1984); Gerena Puerto Rico Servs., Inc., 697 447 (CA1 1983); Dobyns E-Systems, 667 1219 (CA5 1982); Yiamouyiannis Chemical Abstracts Serv., 1392 1975). overruled precedent dictates exclusion 1223 1994). explained, compelled 701 1998). address understood "real complaint" shielded (1997) (denying guards 1983). incorrectly assumes being asked "to tort," 4. well established; class tortfeasors. recognizes (CSC) raised 3. Both amicus maintains seem puzzling attach corporations-subagents Government-but themselves. explicitly reasoning relies, availability prisons. "found sufficient" "which pursue" added)). lightly CSC-housed inmates, comprehensive Schweiker. blames initial se, case; failure "due choice," 11. behavior, generally speaking, imaginable, charge strategically. (discussing how proving "considerably difficult" claim). believed severely maltreated while custody, legal counsel advise otherwise. Without aid failed file name particular guard injuries, resulting eventual barred. unsophisticated plaintiff, or, worst, entirely diligent determining identify guards, said "strategic choice" behavior. amici explain, exempt accountability faced Prisons, 8-25. corporation's loyalty stockholders, interest, cost-cutting measures jeopardizing prisoners' (Scalia, concurring) (arguing "relic days" limited, along facts). hostility new. ("[T]o rightly Mr. Frankfurter start 'unreality' "). disregard concerning well-established 294-297 (Stevens, dissenting).

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