Legal Document

486 U.S. 549 108 S.Ct. 1965 100 L.Ed.2d Theodore J. LOEFFLER, Petitionerv.Anthony M. FRANK, Postmaster General of the United States. No. 86-1431. Argued Jan. 11, 1988. Decided June 13, Syllabus Petitioner was discharged from his position with States Postal Service. Contending that discharge resulted sex discrimination, petitioner brought this suit against in Federal District Court pursuant to § 717 Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964. The court found for and ordered reinstatement backpay, but refused award prejudgment interest. Appeals affirmed denial Relying part on Library Congress v. Shaw, 478 310, 106 2957, 92 250, which held sovereign immunity barred payment interest attorney's fees awarded under VII, concluded had not waived Service's as a suit, even though provided 1970 Reorganization Act, 39 U.S.C. 401(1), Service may "sue be sued." Held: Prejudgment VII. Pp. 554-565. (a) By launching into commercial world including sue-and-be-sued clause removed cloak sovereignty gave it status private enterprise. must liberally construed, liability presumed same any other business. Thus, is have otherwise existing awards. None exceptions liberal-construction rule operate overcome presumption. Franchise Tax Board California USPS, 467 512, 104 2549, 81 446. 554-557. (b) Since authorizes awards normal incident suits parties, since Congress, by enacting has such awards, respondent subjected an case. 557-558. (c) There no merit respondent's contention waiver effected force history its emphasis availability strong remedies discrimination federal employment context, makes clear Congress' failure extend protections employees did reflect intent circumscribe clause, but, rather, determination cause action unnecessary light alternative remedies. Nor irrelevant merely because when extended 1972, included special procedures limitations applicable only actions defendants. Neither language nor legislative indicates intended narrow entities subject clauses. 560-562. (d) there statute provides action, does authorize expressly incorporated provisions allow award, once commenced, delineated employer, who liable suit. supra, contrary. That case started that, absent express consent Government immune waive However, unlike Service, agency launched thereby broadly agency's immunity. 563-565. 806 F.2d 817, (CA 8 1986), reversed remanded. BLACKMUN, J., delivered opinion Court, BRENNAN, MARSHALL, STEVENS, SCALIA, JJ., joined. WHITE, filed dissenting opinion, REHNQUIST, C.J., O'CONNOR, joined, post, p. ----. KENNEDY, took consideration or decision Lisa S. Van Amburg, St. Louis, Mo., petitioner. Charles A. Rothfeld, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice BLACKMUN opinionof Court. 1 This presents question whether 1964, 78 Stat. 253, amended, 42 2000e et seq. 2 * Loeffler rural letter carrier Service.1 appealed termination Merit Systems Protection and, there, sought administrative relief Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This, also, without success. subsequently official capacity,2 2000e-16. After bench trial, Eastern Missouri victim backpay. App. Pet. Cert. A-26. controlling court, Cross 733 1327, 1332 (CA8 1984) (en banc), cert. denied, 470 1051, 105 1750, 84 815 (1985), A-21. (In Cross, equally divided Judge's conclusion Service.) 3 Eighth Circuit Carlin, 780 1365, 1370-1371 (1985). Concluding Court's reliance "understandable proper," id., at 1370, stated: "If reconsidered, should reconsidered en banc." Id., 1371. 4 Subsequently, undertook banc reconsideration, 6-to-5 vote, judgment Tisch, 817 (1986). majority adopted reasoning original panel regard "strongly reinforced" recent 250 (1986), interpreted "holding Government's interest."3 F.2d, 818. In majority's view, provision sued" before it, "a expand obligations entity another itself constitutes exclusive remedy." 819. 5 5-judge dissent submission. "limits been imposed solely barrier immunity," 1332, eliminated noted observation Shaw: " 'The no-interest . inapplicable where cast off assumed enterprise.' 822, quoting U.S., 317, n. 5, S.Ct., 2963, 5. dissent's fits within exception therefore, "an immunity." 823. 6 Because conflict views Eleventh expressed Nagy 773 1190 we granted certiorari decide whether, Sub nom. 483 1004, 107 3227, 97 (1987). II 7 statutory interpretation here presented, involving interaction lends straightforward resolution. Absent immunity, Sherwood, 312 584, 586, 61 767, 769, 85 L.Ed. 1058 (1941). however, certain times their inception enabling legislation they sue sued. FHA Burr, 309 242, 245, 60 488, 490, 724 (1940), explained: "[S]uch waivers governmental construed. Hence, establishes agency, engage business transactions public, permits 'sue sued,' cannot lightly restrictions authority are implied. Rather if general sued' delimited implied exceptions, clearly shown types consistent constitutional scheme, restriction necessary avoid grave interference performance function, reasons plainly purpose use sense. absence showing, endowed less amenable judicial process than enterprise like circumstances would be." (Footnote omitted.) 9 Accord, 517-518, 2552-2553, 446 (1984); Reconstruction Finance Corporation J.G. Menihan Corp., 81, 84-85, 485, 486-487, 595 (1941); see also Keifer & Corporation, 306 381, 59 516, 83 784 (1939). Encompassed principle "that words normally include natural appropriate incidents legal proceedings." 85, 487. 10 accord approach, recognized authorization engaged activities amount For example, Standard Oil Co. States, 267 76, 45 211, 69 519 (1925), reviewed September 2, 1914, ch. 293, 38 711, insurance claims issued Bureau War Risk Insurance. concluded: "When went business, policies familiar form disagreement might sued, accepted ordinary business." 79, 212. Accordingly, allowed. Ibid. See National Home Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Parrish, 229 494, 33 944, 57 1296 (1913) (interest allowed eleemosynary authorized "to sued"). Cf. 11 When created 1970, empowered sued name." 401(1). design "be run more predecessor, Post Office Department." 520, 2554. Board, examined, context order state extent noting "Congress 'launched [the Service] world,' "ibid., construed withhold employees' wages precisely effect ability efficiently orders employers invoked, burden complying impair perform functions, basis overcoming presumption waived. 14, 2554, 14. 12 Our unanimous view here. "the world," charter, "cloak sovereignty" given "status enterprise." It follows 13 guides our operates Subjecting inconsistent 101 seq., scheme pose threat "grave interference" operation. 490. Finally, find nothing suggest "it sense," ibid., To contrary, several specific operation 409,4 none here, inference intend 14 conclude inception, authorizing recovery recoverable party B 15 Respondent concedes, apparently all Courts considered agree, backpay remedy employers.5 surely correct. 706(g) 2000e-5(g), manifestation make "persons whole injuries suffered through past discrimination." Albemarle Paper Moody, 422 405, 421, 95 2362, 2373, 280 (1975.)6 interest, course, element complete compensation." West Virginia 479 305, 702, 706, 93 639 III 16 address arguments, explain briefly manner employees. As originally enacted excluding definition 701(b) 2000e(b), provide Brown GSA, 425 820, 825, 96 1961, 48 402 (1976). amended adding 717, employees, ambit 86 111, so doing, 'the full rights available courts individuals sector VII.' Chandler Roudebush, 840, 841, 1949, 1950, 416 (1976), S.Rep. 92-415, (1971). Section 717(a) mandates personnel affecting covered section "shall made free based race, color, religion, sex, national origin." 2000e-16(a). 717(b) detailed enforcement mechanism, 717(c) aggrieved employee file civil district met requirements regarding exhaustion simultaneously 319, 2964. limited one. "In making defendant traditional interest." 323, 2966. 17 Based background, channels attack two principal arguments. First, contends "sue-and-be-sued" bearing regardless scope. relevant itself. Second, argues 401 control, affords distinct afforded private-sector We examine these contentions turn. 18 support argument case, initially relies failure, time VII.7 constituted leave intact what characterizes "explicit" 1964 preserve suits. But discussed 7, reason could bring 1970—indeed, generally do so—stemmed itself: exclusion term "employer." utterly silent reject notion silence creates new entity, unavailable can limitation entity's inclusion clause. 19 further 1972. Specifically, distinction between causes asserted generally, as, example garnishment statute, (1984), contain while apply former class actions, latter. persuaded reasons. 20 Yet offers concluding added those articulated why so. 21 intends directed exclusive,—in effect, limit clauses—it said expressly. torts Tort Claims (FTCA), 28 §§ 1346, 2671-2680, example. Prior FTCA's enactment, agencies were already suable tort. Although FTCA many previously tort, wished "place 'suable' upon footing 'nonsuable' agencies." H.R.Rep. 1287, 79th Cong., 1st Sess., (1945). clauses stated FTCA, whose tort being first time: 22 "The own name shall cognizable 1346(b) title, title cases exclusive." 2679(a). 23 contrast, neither contains expression 401(1) application here.8 C 24 next controlling, inappropriate starts premise outcome beyond dispute. Therefore, claimed, "[t]he fact 'no-interest' explicit rather drawn Shaw ., binding." Brief 16. argument, misunderstands both nature holding Shaw. 25 Without doubt, petitioner's derived 717. disagree explicitly statement kind. award. 717(c), 2000e-16(c), after pursuing various mandatory remedies, unsatisfied plaintiff "may 2000e-5 title," governs employers. 26 although circumscribed prerequisites employer. Most importantly purposes 717(d) incorporates provided. allows "order affirmative appropriate, includ[ing] back pay equitable deems appropriate." 2000e-5(g). thus employer 843-848, 1951-1954. And, just 27 Respondent's stands proposition implicitly states faced 706(k) 2000e-5(k), prevailing recover respect Unlike 690. starting point analysis "no-interest rule," 314, 2961. dispositive contained plaintiff's scope action. creating it. search about, above, IV 29 reversed, remanded proceedings opinion. 30 ordered. 31 KENNEDY 32 whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE O'CONNOR join, dissenting. Essentially below, I believe respectfully dissent. Petitioner's arose practice casing boxholder mail. "Boxholder" mail third-class bear particular individual postal single bundle delivery each current resident possessor rural-delivery mailbox. 'Casing' inserting boxholders separation post office work area prior delivery, then second inside convenient sleeve rest pieces quicker easier. carry them separate bundles insert box during delivery." A-28. 1979, directives headquarters five carriers Chesterfield, Office, petitioner, instructed boxholders. openly violated female carriers. three repeatedly ignored rule, discharged, disciplined mildly all. At filed, William F. Bolger, General, named defendant. While pending appeal, Bolger succeeded Paul N. Carlin subsequently, Preston R. Tisch. oral Tisch Anthony Frank. Frank substituted Rule 40.3. bars came "against backdrop 2966-2967, provides: "Apart requirements, contract 'express Congress,' claim States." Louisiana, 264-265, 1618, 1625-1626, 64 196 (1980), N.Y. Rayon Importing Co., 329 654, 659, 67 601, 604, 91 577 (1947). 409 part: "(b) Unless relating service process, venue, bringing officers, parties. "(c) chapter 171 arising out Service." 9. Conway Electro Switch 825 593, 602 (CA1 1987); Green USX 843 1511, 1530 (CA3 1988); Gregory, 818 1114, 1118 (CA4), 484 847, 143, 98 99 (1987); Parson Kaiser Aluminum Chemical 727 473, (CA5), 1243, 3516, 82 824 EEOC Wooster Brush Employees Relief Assn., 566, 578-579 (CA6 1984); Taylor Philips Industries, Inc., 593 783, 787 (CA7 1979); Washington Kroger 671 1072, 1078 1982); Domingo New England Fish 1429, 1446 (CA9), modified grounds, 742 520 (CA11 1985). County Erie, 751 (CA2 Pay Act); 241 U.S.App.D.C. 355, 361, 747 1469, 1475 (1984) award), rev'd Indeed, ensure victims relief, broad powers. 2000e-5(g); 418-421, 2372-2373. Senate considering version Senator Cook proposed floor amendment give equal opportunity industry benefited 1964." 116 Cong.Rec. 22279 (1970). approved 93-0 vote. 22279-22280. deleted conference, conferees "present law guarantee[d] antidiscrimination greater benefit 26953 (remarks Sen. McGee); 26956, 26957 27597 Rep. Daniels). McGee, presented Conference Report Senate, "guarantee[d]" bill "achieve laudable intended," immediately enact legislation. McGee). seeks comfort concededly technical accordance head defendant, "in 249-250, 492, Housing 1246, 344 Banking 1935, 49 722, applied Administrator Authority acting capacity. permitted itself, terms powers exercised Administrator. inverse situation: logic applies. Whenever acts capacity, he always chargeable person therefore procedural distinction.

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