lugar edmondson oil argued december decided june case concerns relationship requirement state action establish violation fourteenth amendment requirement action color state law establish right recover provides remedy deprivation constitutional rights deprivation takes place color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state respondents filed suit virginia state debt owed petitioner sought prejudgment attachment certain petitioner property pursuant virginia law respondents alleged ex parte petition belief petitioner disposing might dispose property order defeat creditors acting upon petition clerk state issued writ attachment executed county sheriff hearing propriety attachment later conducted days levy trial judge dismissed attachment respondents failure establish alleged statutory grounds attachment petitioner brought action federal district alleging attaching property respondents acted jointly state deprive property without due process law district held alleged actions respondents constitute state action required fourteenth amendment complaint therefore state valid claim appeals affirmed basis complaint failed allege conduct color state law purposes neither usurpation corruption official power private litigant surrender judicial power private litigant way independence enforcing officer compromised significant degree held constitutional requirements due process apply garnishment prejudgment attachment procedures whenever state officers act jointly private creditor securing property dispute sniadach family finance challenged conduct creditor constitutes state action delimited prior decisions conduct also action color state law support suit pp conduct allegedly causing deprivation constitutional right protected infringement state must fairly attributable state determining question fair attribution deprivation must caused exercise right privilege created state rule conduct imposed person responsible party charged deprivation must person may fairly said state actor either state official acted together obtained significant aid state officials conduct otherwise chargeable state pp insofar petitioner alleged misuse abuse respondents virginia law state cause action challenged private action challenged conduct ascribed governmental decision respondents authority state officials put weight state behind private decision however insofar petitioner complaint challenged state statute procedurally defective due process clause present valid cause action statutory scheme obviously product state action private party joint participation state officials seizure disputed property sufficient characterize party state actor purposes fourteenth amendment respondents therefore acting color state law participating deprivation petitioner property pp white delivered opinion brennan marshall blackmun stevens joined burger filed dissenting opinion post powell filed dissenting opinion rehnquist joined post robert morrison argued cause filed brief petitioner james haskins argued cause respondents brief victor millner justice white delivered opinion fourteenth amendment constitution provides part state shall make enforce law shall abridge privileges immunities citizens shall state deprive person life liberty property without due process law deny person within jurisdiction equal protection laws title provides remedy deprivations rights secured constitution laws deprivation takes place color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory case concerns relationship requirement action color state law fourteenth amendment requirement state action petitioner truckstop virginia indebted supplier edmondson oil edmondson sued debt virginia state ancillary action pursuant state law edmondson sought prejudgment attachment certain petitioner property code prejudgment attachment procedure required edmondson allege ex parte petition belief petitioner disposing might dispose property order defeat creditors acting upon petition clerk state issued writ attachment executed county sheriff effectively sequestered petitioner property although left possession pursuant statute hearing propriety attachment levy later conducted days levy state trial judge ordered attachment dismissed edmondson failed establish statutory grounds attachment alleged petition petitioner subsequently brought action edmondson president complaint alleged attaching property respondents acted jointly state deprive property without due process law lower courts construed complaint alleging due process violation misuse virginia procedure statutory procedure sought compensatory punitive damages specified financial loss allegedly caused improvident attachment relying flagg brothers brooks district held alleged actions respondents constitute state action required fourteenth amendment complaint therefore state claim upon relief granted petitioner appealed appeals fourth circuit sitting en banc affirmed three dissenters appeals rejected district reliance flagg brothers finding requisite state action missing case participation state officers executing levy sufficiently distinguished case flagg brothers appeals stated issue follows hether mere institution private litigant presumptively valid state judicial proceedings without prior subsequent collusion concerted action litigant state officials proceed adjudicative administrative executive enforcement proceedings constitutes action color state law within contemplation omitted construction requirement appears inconsistent prior decisions granted certiorari ii although appeals correctly perceived importance flagg brothers proper resolution case misread case also failed give sufficient weight line cases beginning sniadach family finance considered constitutional due process requirements context garnishment actions prejudgment attachments see north georgia finishing mitchell grant fuentes shevin cases involved finding state action implicit predicate application due process standards flagg brothers distinguished ground overt official involvement property deprivation overt action state officer flagg brothers although case falls sniadach flagg brothers side distinction appeals thought garnishment attachment cases irrelevant none fuentes arose fuentes distinguishable determined ignore issue case whether state action rather whether respondents acted color state law see however two concepts easily disentangled whether identical requirements obviously related indeed recently distinguish two requirements price explicitly stated requirements identical cases color law consistently treated thing state action required fourteenth amendment support proposition cited smith allwright terry adams cases black voters texas challenged exclusion party primaries violation fifteenth amendment sought relief case understood problem whether discriminatory policy private political association characterized state action within meaning fifteenth amendment smith supra found state action constitution inquiry whether action political associations also met statutory requirement action color state law similarly clear action brought state official statutory requirement action color state law state action requirement fourteenth amendment identical conclusion classic isuse power possessed virtue state law made possible wrongdoer clothed authority state law action taken color state law founded rule announced ex parte virginia actions state officer exceeds limits authority constitute state action purposes fourteenth amendment decision appeals rests misreading flagg brothers case distinguished two elements action plaintiffs first bound show deprived right secured constitution laws must secondly show flagg brothers deprived right acting color statute state new york clear two elements denote two separate areas inquiry adickes kress reason flagg brothers address question whether action color state law expressly eschewed deciding whether requirement satisfied private action authorized state law although requirements separate areas inquiry flagg brothers hold suggest state action present might satisfy requirement conduct color state law nevertheless appeals relied flagg brothers conclude case state action fourteenth amendment necessarily action color state law purposes agree approach cause action referred flagg brothers derived adickes kress adickes action brought private party based claim racial discrimination violation equal protection clause fourteenth amendment although stating plaintiff must show deprived right secured constitution laws defendant acted color statute state held private party joint participation state official conspiracy discriminate constitute state action essential show direct violation petitioner fourteenth amendment equal protection rights action color law purposes statute support conclusion private party held violated fourteenth amendment liable cited part price concluded state action action color state law quoted supra adickes provides support appeals novel construction decision appeals difficult reconcile garnishment prejudgment attachment cases congressional purpose enacting beginning sniadach family finance consistently held constitutional requirements due process apply garnishment prejudgment attachment procedures whenever officers state act jointly creditor securing property dispute sniadach north georgia finishing involved garnishment procedures mitchell grant involved execution vendor lien secure disputed property cases state agents aided creditor securing disputed property case federal issue arose litigation creditor debtor state courts state official named party nevertheless case entertained adjudicated claim procedure private creditor secured disputed property violated federal constitutional standards due process necessary conclusion holding private use challenged state procedures help state officials constitutes state action purposes fourteenth amendment fuentes shevin action brought private creditor state attorney general plaintiff sought declaratory injunctive relief due process grounds continued enforcement state statutes authorizing prejudgment replevin plaintiff prevailed appeals correct case cause action private parties yet remained parties judgment ran defendant debtor debt collection proceedings successfully challenge federal due process grounds plaintiff creditor resort procedures authorized state statute difficult understand behavior plaintiff provide cause action violates due process rights seizing property accordance statutory procedures little reason deny latter cause action federal statute designed provide judicial redress constitutional violations read color statute language act way impose limit fourteenth amendment violations may redressed cause action wholly inconsistent purpose civil rights act stat derived act passed express purpose enforc ing provisions fourteenth amendment lynch household finance history act replete statements indicating congress thought creating remedy broad protection fourteenth amendment affords individual perhaps direct statement senator edmunds manager bill senate section simple really reenact constitution cong globe representative bingham similarly stated bill purpose enforcement constitution behalf every individual citizen republic extent rights guarantied constitution app sum line drawn appeals inconsistent prior cases substantially undercut congressional purpose providing cause action challenged conduct respondents constitutes state action delimited prior decisions conduct also action color state law support suit iii matter substantive constitutional law requirement reflects judicial recognition fact rights secured constitution protected infringement governments flagg brothers said jackson metropolitan edison civil rights cases affirmed essential dichotomy set forth fourteenth amendment deprivation state subject scrutiny provisions private conduct however discriminatory wrongful fourteenth amendment offers shield cases accordingly insisted conduct allegedly causing deprivation federal right fairly attributable state cases reflect approach question fair attribution first deprivation must caused exercise right privilege created state rule conduct imposed state person state responsible sniadach fuentes grant north georgia example state statute provided right garnish obtain prejudgment attachment well procedure rights exercised second party charged deprivation must person may fairly said state actor may state official acted together obtained significant aid state officials conduct otherwise chargeable state without limit private parties face constitutional litigation whenever seek rely state rule governing interactions community surrounding although related two principles collapse claim constitutional deprivation directed party whose official character lend weight state decisions see monroe pape two principles diverge constitutional claim directed party without apparent authority private party difference two inquiries well illustrated comparing moose lodge irvis flagg brothers supra moose lodge held discriminatory practices appellant violate equal protection clause practices constitute state action focused primarily question whether admittedly discriminatory policy way ascribed governmental decision inquiry therefore looked policies adopted state applied appellant concluded follows therefore hold exception hereafter noted operation regulatory scheme enforced pennsylvania liquor control board sufficiently implicate state discriminatory guest policies moose lodge make latter state action within ambit equal protection clause fourteenth amendment flagg brothers focused component principle case warehouseman proceeded new york uniform commercial code debtor challenged constitutionality provision grounds violated due process equal protection clauses fourteenth amendment undoubtedly state responsible statute response however focused terms statute character defendant suit action private party pursuant statute without something sufficient justify characterization party state actor suggested something convert private party state actor might vary circumstances case simply recognition articulated number different factors tests different contexts public function test see terry adams marsh alabama state compulsion test see adickes kress nexus test see jackson metropolitan edison burton wilmington parking authority case prejudgment attachments joint action test flagg brothers whether different tests actually different operation simply different ways characterizing necessarily inquiry confronts situation need resolved see burton supra sifting facts weighing circumstances nonobvious involvement state private conduct attributed true significance iv turning case first question whether claimed deprivation resulted exercise right privilege source state authority second question whether facts case respondents private parties may appropriately characterized state actors district appeals noted ambiguous scope petitioner contentions considerable confusion throughout litigation question whether lugar ultimate claim unconstitutional deprivation directed virginia statute erroneous application courts held resolution ambiguity necessary disposition case resolved case favor view petitioner attacking constitutionality statute well misapplication view resolution issue essential proper disposition case petitioner presented three counts complaint count three pendent claim based state tort law counts one two claimed violations due process clause count two alleged deprivation property resulted respondents malicious wanton willful opressive sic unlawful acts unlawful petitioner apparently meant unlawful state law say however say conduct petitioner complained ascribed governmental decision rather respondents acting contrary relevant policy articulated state authority state officials put weight state behind private decision case fall within abuse authority doctrine recognized monroe pape respondents invoked statute without grounds way attributed state rule state decision count two therefore state cause action challenges private action count one different matter count describes procedures followed respondents obtaining prejudgment attachment well fact state subsequently ordered attachment dismissed respondents met burden state law petitioner summarily sequence events deprived property without due process although clear whether petitioner referring procedure misuse procedure respondents agree lower courts better reading complaint petitioner challenges state statute procedurally defective fourteenth amendment private misuse state statute describe conduct attributed state procedural scheme created statute obviously product state action subject constitutional restraints properly may addressed action second element requirement met well clear discussion part ii consistently held private party joint participation state officials seizure disputed property sufficient characterize party state actor purposes fourteenth amendment rule cases articulated adickes kress supra context equal protection deprivation private persons jointly engaged state officials prohibited action acting color law purposes statute act color law require accused officer state enough willful participant joint activity state agents quoting price summary petitioner deprived property state action respondents therefore acting color state law participating deprivation petitioner present valid cause action insofar challenged constitutionality virginia statute insofar alleged misuse abuse statute judgment reversed part affirmed part case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress time attachment question section codified code principal action proceeded entry judgment debt favor edmondson petitioner property sold execution judgment answer respondents motion dismiss abstention grounds petitioner stated question constitutional validity state statutes made plaintiff memorandum opposition motion dismiss district responded follows espite plaintiff protests contrary complaint read challenging constitutionality virginia attachment statute app pet cert appeals agreed case originally argued panel appeals however acting sua sponte set matter rehearing en banc justice powell suggests opinion consistent mode inquiry prescribed cases post believe situation opposite rely precisely upon ground majority put forth flagg brothers distinguish case earlier prejudgment attachment cases total absence overt official involvement plainly distinguishes case earlier decisions imposing procedural restrictions creditors remedies justice powell point mentions aspect flagg brothers decision method inquiry adopt suggested adickes kress seemingly approved flagg brothers joint action state official accomplish prejudgment deprivation constitutionally protected property interest support claim private party appeals held fuentes shevin relevant defendants case included state attorney general well private creditor view presence state official made private party defendant merely nominal party action injunctive relief judge butzner dissent found fuentes directly controlling appeals recognized stated two three basic patterns litigation defendant public official private party distinction state action action color state law joint action private parties state officials stated distinction arise two requirements also stated indictment allege conduct part private defendants constitutes state action alleges action color law within monroe pape held color law meaning besides two cases cited number lower cases support proposition constitutional concept state action satisfies statutory requirement action color state law simkins moses cone memorial hospital smith holiday inns hampton city jacksonville boman birmingham transit kerr enoch pratt free library cases involved litigation private parties plaintiffs alleged unconstitutional discrimination case inquiry whether defendant met requirement fourteenth amendment requirement met courts granted relief sought title ed reclassified opinion terry adams three opinions support reversal lower decision pose question whether action private political association question jaybird democratic association constituted state action purposes fifteenth amendment none suggests fifteenth amendment violation private association might support cause action failure prove action color state law classic involve directly rather interpreted ed criminal counterpart see supra relationship adickes opinion contained following statement whatever else may also necessary show person acted color statute purposes think essential act knowledge pursuant statute statement obviously meant neither establish definition action color state law establish distinction statutory requirement constitutional standard state action statement made response argument discrimination private party pursuant state trespass statute satisfy requirements rejected factual showing defendants acted knowledge pursuant statute context statement made justice brennan writing separately suggest adickes private party acts alone must shown establish acts color state statute authority needed show action constitutes state action omitted even view however private party acts conjunction state official whatever satisfies requirement fourteenth amendment satisfies requirement statute justice brennan position rested least part much less strict standard constitute state action area racial discrimination adopted majority case position articulated never adopted justice powell discussion adickes confuses two counts complaint case conspiracy count alleged respondent private party police officer conspired deprive petitioner right enjoy equal treatment service place public accommodation cause arrest false charge vagrancy respect count allege unconstitutional statute custom held joint action private party police officer sufficient support suit party count complaint substantive count alleged private act discrimination pursuant custom community segregate races public eating places rely joint action theory held petitioner show abridgment equal protection right proves kress refused service custom justice powell wrong summarizes adickes holding private party acts color law conspires state officials secure application state law plainly unconstitutional enjoy presumption validity post confuse conspiracy substantive counts issue adickes unless one argues state vagrancy law unconstitutional argument one made adickes joint action count adickes involve state law whether plainly unconstitutional thus find incomprehensible justice powell statement cite cases private decision invoke presumptively valid state legal process held state action post likewise discussion cases post steadfastly ignores predicate holding case debtor challenge constitutional adequacy private creditor seizure property predicate necessarily principle private party invocation seemingly valid prejudgment remedy statute coupled aid state official satisfies requirement fourteenth amendment warrants relief private party fact throughout congressional debate act bill officially described bill enforce provisions fourteenth amendment constitution purposes see also remarks senator trumbull describing purpose house passing act bill passed house representatives understood members body go protect persons rights guarantied constitution laws cong globe remarks representative shellabarger relationship bill fourteenth amendment app conclusion case inconsistent statement flagg brothers two elements state action action color state law denote two separate areas inquiry first although hold conduct satisfying requirement fourteenth amendment satisfies statutory requirement action color state law follow conduct satisfies requirement satisfy fourteenth amendment requirement state action action color state law means nothing individual act knowledge pursuant statute adickes kress clearly flagg brothers satisfy requirement fourteenth amendment second although hold case requirement add anything already included within requirement fourteenth amendment applicable constitutional provisions statutory provisions contain requirement federal right issue statutory concept action color state law distinct element case satisfied implicitly finding violation particular federal right decision today inconsistent polk county dodson polk county held public defender actions performing lawyer traditional functions counsel state criminal proceeding support suit although analyzed public defender conduct light requirement action color state law specifically stated necessary case consider whether requirement identical state action requirement fourteenth amendment although sometimes treated questions identical see price need consider relationship order decide case concluded public defender although state employee defense client acts canons professional ethics role adversarial state accordingly although state employment generally sufficient render defendant state actor analysis infra peculiarly difficult detect action state circumstances case polk county also rejected respondent claims governmental agencies failed allege policy arguably violated rights sixth eighth fourteenth amendments respondent failed challenge rule conduct decision state responsible allegations support claim state action analysis proposed infra thus decision today suggest different outcome polk county elements inquiry opinion well found primarily effort distinguish relationship moose lodge state state restaurant considered burton wilmington parking authority see one exception illustrates point enjoined enforcement state rule requiring moose lodge comply constitution bylaws insofar contained racially discriminatory provisions state enforcement rule either judicially administratively circumstances amount governmental decision adopt racially discriminatory policy contrary suggestion justice powell dissent hold today private party mere invocation state legal procedures constitutes joint participation conspiracy state officials satisfying requirement action color law post holding today analysis makes clear limited particular context prejudgment attachment confusion nature petitioner allegations continued oral argument although various times counsel petitioner seemed deny petitioner challenged constitutionality statute see tr oral arg also stated claim action taken even line line accordance virginia law whether right claim violation lugar constitutional rights justice powell concerned private individuals innocently make use seemingly valid state laws responsible law subsequently held unconstitutional consequences actions view however problem dealt changing character cause action establishing affirmative defense similar concern least partially responsible availability defense qualified immunity state officials need reach question availability defense private individuals juncture said adickes confronted question applicable today intimate views concerning relief might appropriate violation shown parties briefed remedial issues violation proved best explored first instance light new record developed remand mean determine juncture whether defenses available defendants actions like one hand cf pierson ray citations omitted whether dealing suits suits brought pursuant fourteenth amendment view inquiry claimed infringement federal right fairly attributable state kohn ante applying standard said actions named respondents fairly attributable state respondents invoke presumptively valid state prejudgment attachment procedure available relying dubious analysis erroneously concludes subsequent procedural steps taken state attaching putative debtor property way transforms respondents acts actions state case different situation private party commences lawsuit secures injunctive relief even temporary may cause significant injury defendant invoking judicial process course implicates state officers transform essentially private conduct actions state dennis sparks similarly one practices trade profession drives automobile builds house state license engaging acts fairly attributable state dennis instant case petitioner remedy lies private suits damages malicious prosecution opinion expands reach statute beyond anything intended congress may well consequence casually falling semantical trap figurative use term color state law pleadings case amply demonstrate challenged conduct directed solely respondents acts unlawful actions alleged respondents made conclusory allegations app respondents lacked factual basis attachment respondents lacked good cause believe facts support attachment allegation collusion conspiracy state actors justice powell justice rehnquist justice join dissenting today decision disquieting example expansive judicial decisionmaking ensnare person every reason believe acting strict accordance law case began nearly five years ago outgrowth simple suit debt virginia state respondent small wholesale oil dealer southside brought suit petitioner lugar truckstop owner failed pay debt suit collect indebtedness fearful petitioner might dissipate assets debt collected respondent also filed petition state seeking sequestration certain lugar assets virginia statute traceable least permits creditors seek prejudgment attachment property possession debtors questioned validity statute remains presumptively valid clerk state duly issued writ attachment county sheriff executed allegation respondent conspired state officials deny petitioner fair protection state federal law respondent ultimately prevailed lawsuit petitioner lugar ordered pay debt state find however lugar assets attached prior judgment underlying action following decision lugar instituted legal action district western district virginia suing federal statute lugar alleged respondent filing petition state acted color law caused deprivation constitutional rights fourteenth amendment amendment create rights enforceable private citizens one assumed respondent kohn ante flagg brooks shelley kraemer civil rights cases district appeals agreed petitioner cause action sensibly found respondent held responsible deprivation constitutional rights suit belong federal today reverses judgment lower courts holds respondent private citizen commence legal action kind traditionally initiated private parties thereby engaged state action decision unprecedented implausible plainly unjust respondent makes argument contrary respondent represented counsel notion filing petition state effort secure payment private debt made state actor liable damages allegedly unconstitutional action commonwealth virginia analysis consistent mode inquiry prescribed cases contrary undermines fundamental distinctions categories state private conduct legal concepts state action private action color law plain language establishes plaintiff must satisfy two jurisdictional requisites state actionable claim first must allege violation right secured constitution laws rights secured constitution protected infringement governments flagg brooks requirement compels inquiry presence state action second plaintiff must show alleged deprivation caused person acting color law flagg affirmed two elements denote two separate areas inquiry see adickes kress case demonstrates separate inquiries required disputed virginia sheriff clerk state officials sequestered petitioner property manner provided virginia law engaged state action yet petitioner alleging constitutional injury action state officials sue state agents circumstances appeals correctly stated relevant inquiry second identified flagg whether respondent private citizen whose action invoke presumptively valid state attachment process acted color state law causing state deprive petitioner alleged constitutional rights consistently past decisions appeals concluded respondent private conduct occurred color law rejecting reasoning appeals opinion inexplicably conflates two inquiries mandated flagg bros ignoring case involves two sets actions one respondent merely filed suit accompanying sequestration petition another state officials issued writ executed lien wrongly frames question whether private respondent acted color law filing petition whether respondents private parties may appropriately characterized state actors ante concludes may theory private party invokes aid state officials take advantage attachment procedures joint participant state therefore state actor rule asserts follows private persons jointly engaged state officials prohibited action acting color law purposes statute act color law require accused officer state enough willful participant joint activity state agents ante quoting adickes kress supra turn quoting price ii recognized monroe pape historic purpose prevent state officials using cloak authority state law violate rights protected state infringement fourteenth amendment accordingly correct important inquiry suit private party whether allegation wrongful conduct attributed state ante first question referred flagg bros still remains second flagg question whether state action fairly attributed respondent whose action invoke presumptively valid attachment statute question unasked reveals fallacy conclusion respondent may held accountable attachment property state actor occurrence state action taken sheriff sequestered petitioner property follow respondent became state actor simply sheriff today never endorsed non sequitur course true respondent private action followed state action private state actions unconnected hat state responds private actions taking action render responsible private actions blum yaretsky post see flagg jackson metropolitan edison state responsible private decision behave certain way private action generally considered state action within meaning cases see blum yaretsky post moose lodge irvis jackson metropolitan edison supra espondent exercise choice allowed state law initiative comes state make action state action purposes fourteenth amendment omitted course held private parties amenable suit jointly engaged state officials violation constitutional rights see adickes kress yet advancing joint participation theory cite single case private decision invoke presumptively valid state legal process held constitute state action even quotation principally relies statement applicable rule ante refer state action rather explicitly rivate persons jointly engaged state officials prohibited action acting color law purposes statute illustrated quotation cases recognized distinction state action private action color law distinction sound principle also consistent supportive distinction private conduct government action subject procedural limitations due process clause fourteenth amendment notes careful adherence state action requirement preserves area individual freedom limiting reach federal law federal judicial power also avoids imposing state agencies officials responsibility conduct fairly blamed ante color law inquiry acknowledges private individuals engaged unlawful joint behavior state officials may personally responsible wrongs cause occur confuse private actors state fallacy analysis adopted today case involving private action respondent petitioning state courts virginia appropriate inquiry respondent liability whether state actor whether acted color law question therefore turn iii contrary position cases establish private party mere invocation state legal procedures constitutes joint participation conspiracy state officials satisfying requirement action color law dennis sparks held private parties acted color law corruptly conspiring state judge joint scheme defraud holding however explicitly stated merely resorting courts winning side lawsuit make party joint actor judge conclusion reinforced recent decision polk county dodson held true respect defense criminal defendant invocation state legal process essentially private function state office authority needed recent decisions make clear independent private decisions made context litigation said occur color law nevertheless advances two principal grounds holding contrary argues petitioner action supported cases applied due process standards state garnishment prejudgment attachment procedures relies specifically sniadach family finance fuentes shevin mitchell grant north georgia finishing according cases establish private party acts color law seeking attachment property unconstitutional state statute fact careful reading demonstrates provide authority proposition cases cited sniadach mitchell involved attacks validity state attachment garnishment statutes none cases alleged private creditor joint actor state none involved claim damages creditor case involved state suit federal action therefore unnecessary cases consider whether creditor virtue instituting attachment garnishment became state actor acted color state law one word cases characterizes private creditor fuentes shevin consider action private creditor well state attorney general however question validity state statute claim made creditor joint actor state acted color law damages sought creditor occasion consider status private party word opinion discusses sniadach mitchell fuentes thus fails establish private party mere invocation state attachment garnishment procedures represents action color law even case procedures subsequently held unconstitutional addition relying cases involving constitutionality state attachment garnishment statutes advances joint participation theory based adickes kress adickes plaintiff sued private restaurant alleging conspiracy restaurant local police deprive right equal treatment place public accommodation reversing decision upheld cause action found private defendant conspiring local police obtain official enforcement state custom racial segregation engaged joint activity state agents therefore acted color law within meaning quoting price contrary suggestion however justice harlan opinion adickes purport define term color law attending closely facts presented observed hatever else may also necessary show person acted color statute purposes think essential act knowledge pursuant statute emphasis added indicated choice language clearly seems contemplated limiting principle citizen summoning police enforce law ordinarily considered engaged conspiracy presumably citizen characterized acting color law thereby risking amenability suit constitutional violations subsequently might occur surely nothing adickes indicate found action color law cases kind although adickes distinguishable hypotheticals current case conduct adickes occurred years brown board education decade publicized litigation followed wake view intense national focus issues racial discrimination virtually inconceivable private citizen acted innocent belief state law customs involved adickes still presumptively valid justice harlan wrote ew principles law firmly stitched constitutional fabric proposition state must discriminate person race race companions way act compel encourage segregation construed resting basis adickes establishes private party acts color law conspires state officials secure application state law plainly unconstitutional enjoy presumption validity context private party characterized hiding behind authority law engaging joint participation state deprivation constitutional rights however petitioner alleged conspiracy even alleged respondent invoking aid law known constitutionally invalid finally allegation respondent decision invoke legal process way compelled law custom state lived context adickes simply inapposite today decision therefore unprecedented unjust state action filed name edmondson oil alleged lugar owed products merchandise previously delivered app present suit lugar named defendants edmondson oil president ronald barbour respondent barbour sole stockholder edmondson oil appears directed actions litigation see refer throughout barbour sole respondent see code et seq time attachment case applicable provisions code et seq virginia attachment provisions remained essentially present form despite numerous recodifications since see code et seq code et seq code et seq code ch code ch title time question provided every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress judge phillips excellent opinion en banc appeals correctly defined question presented whether mere institution private litigant presumptively valid state judicial proceedings without prior subsequent collusion concerted action litigant state officials proceed adjudicative administrative executive enforcement proceedings constitutes action color state law within contemplation omitted state officials acting official capacities even abuse lawful authority generally held act color law monroe pape ex parte virginia officials clothed authority state law gives power perpetrate wrongs congress intended prevent classic ex parte virginia supra cf polk county dodson public defender representing indigent client criminal proceeding performs function authority state office needed therefore act color state law engaged defense attorney traditionally private roles ante quotes price establishing cases color law consistently treated thing state action required fourteenth amendment price however conduct actors constituted state action action color law see indictment alleges conduct part private defendants constitutes state action also alleges action color law situation case quite different present case involves state action sheriff action also color law price real question whether conduct private respondent constituted either state action action color law price quotation plainly resolve question cases cited price also relies similarly inapposite adickes term jointly engaged appears used specifically connote engagement conspiracy see avers holding limited particular context prejudgment attachment ante however welcome limitation lacks principled basis unclear private party engages state action filing papers seeking attachment property seeking relief injunction summoning police investigate suspected crime one stage litigation respondent averred lawsuit raised question constitutional validity state statutes plaintiff memorandum opposition motion dismiss district nevertheless concluded complaint read challenging constitutionality virginia attachment statute app pet cert appeals agreed finds support contrary view reading cases implicitly embracing fallacy today sniadach mitchell case question state action occurred official state undisputed state actor undertaken either attach property garnish wages occurrence state action state officials ipso facto establishes private plaintiffs also must viewed state actors given presence state action state officials however need inquire whether private parties also state actors plain opinions cases arising state need consider whether private defendants acted color law within meaning fuentes consolidated case involving similar facts epps cortese supp ed arguing patent unconstitutionality racial discrimination irrelevant conspiracy count adickes charges discussion confuses conspiracy substantive causes action ante view difficult understand adickes private defendant allegedly conspired police deprive plaintiff right enjoy equal treatment service place public accommodation apparently cause discriminatory legally baseless arrest vagrancy statute vagrancy statute challenged invalid face concludes joint action conspiracy count involve state law whether plainly unconstitutional ante conclusion simply wrong first place alleged conspiracy included agreement enforce state law requiring racial segregation restaurants law plainly unconstitutional even vagrancy statute certainly unconstitutional applied enforce racial segregation presumably reasons agreed private defendant conspir ed local police adickes entirely different case one bar least one scholarly commentator stated cautious conclusion virginia attachment provisions satisfy standards established recent due process decisions see brabham sniadach backwards analysis virginia attachment detinue statutes rich rev correctness conclusion course issue present posture case directly relevant case proper resolution suggests respondent may entitled claim immunity suit civil damages ante positive suggestion agree holding immunity mitigate ultimate cost litigation however convert holding one case already litigation nearly five years remanded proceedings respondent solely undertook assert rights authorized presumptively valid state statute subjected expense distractions hazards protracted litigation