correctional services malesko argued october decided november petitioner correctional services corporation csc contract federal bureau prisons bop operates le marquis community correctional center le marquis facility houses federal inmates respondent federal inmate afflicted heart condition limiting ability climb stairs assigned bedroom le marquis fifth floor csc instituted policy requiring inmates residing sixth floor use stairs rather elevator respondent exempted policy csc employee forbade respondent use elevator reach bedroom climbed stairs suffered heart attack fell subsequently respondent filed damages action csc individual defendants alleging inter alia negligent refusing use elevator district treated complaint raising claims bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents recognized first time implied private action damages federal officers alleged violated citizen constitutional rights dismissing suit district relied fdic meyer reasoning inter alia bivens action may maintained individual corporate entity second circuit reversed pertinent part remanded remarking respect csc meyer expressly declined expand category defendants actions may brought include federal agents also federal agencies reasoned private entities held liable bivens accomplish important bivens goal providing remedy constitutional violations held bivens limited holding may extended confer right action damages private entities acting color federal law authority imply new constitutional tort expressly authorized statute anchored general jurisdiction decide cases arising federal law first exercised authority bivens discussion subsequent cases clear respondent claim fundamentally different anything heretofore recognized years bivens jurisprudence extended holding twice provide otherwise nonexistent cause action individual officers alleged acted unconstitutionally carlson green provide cause action plaintiff lacked alternative remedy harms caused individual officer unconstitutional conduct davis passman circumstances present consistently rejected invitations extend bivens often reasons foreclose extension see bush lucas bivens purpose deter individual federal officers agency committing constitutional violations meyer made clear inter alia threat suit individual employer kind deterrence contemplated bivens case every meaningful sense corporate defendant available suit claimants focus collection efforts individual directly responsible alleged injury meyer logic inferring constitutional tort remedy private entity like csc therefore foreclosed respondent claim requiring private corporations acting color federal law pay constitutional harms commit best way discourage future harms relevance bivens concerned solely deterring individual officers unconstitutional acts reason consider extending bivens beyond core premise begin federal prisoners enjoy respondent contemplated remedy prisoner bop facility alleges constitutional deprivation remedy lies offending individual officer whether makes sense impose asymmetrical liability costs private prison facilities alone question congress decide situation claimants respondent shoes lack effective remedies conceded oral argument alternative remedies least great many respects greater anything bivens example federal prisoners private facilities enjoy parallel tort remedy unavailable prisoners housed government facilities inmates respondent position also full access remedial mechanisms established bop including suits federal injunctive relief long recognized proper means preventing entities acting unconstitutionally grievances filed bop administrative remedy program pp reversed rehnquist delivered opinion scalia kennedy thomas joined scalia filed concurring opinion thomas joined stevens filed dissenting opinion souter ginsburg breyer joined correctional services corporation petitioner john malesko writ certiorari appeals second circuit november chief justice rehnquist delivered opinion decide whether implied damages action first recognized bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents extended allow recovery private corporation operating halfway house contract bureau prisons decline extend bivens petitioner correctional services corporation csc contract federal bureau prisons bop operates community corrections centers facilities house federal prisoners since late csc operated le marquis community correctional center le marquis halfway house located new york city respondent john malesko former federal inmate convicted federal securities fraud december sentenced term months imprisonment supervision bop imprisonment respondent diagnosed heart condition treated prescription medication respondent condition limited ability engage physical activity climbing stairs february bop transferred respondent le marquis serve remainder sentence respondent assigned living quarters fifth floor march petitioner instituted policy le marquis requiring inmates residing sixth floor use staircase rather elevator travel lobby rooms dispute respondent exempted policy account heart condition respondent alleges march however jorge urena employee petitioner forbade use elevator reach bedroom respondent protested specially permitted elevator access urena adamant respondent climbed stairs suffered heart attack fell injuring left ear three years incident occurred respondent filed pro se action csc unnamed csc employees district southern district new york two years later acting counsel respondent filed amended complaint named urena john doe defendants amended complaint alleged csc urena unnamed defendants negligent failing obtain requisite medication respondent condition negligent refusing respondent use elevator app alleged respondent injured left ear aggravated condition result negligence defendants ibid respondent demanded judgment sum million compensatory damages million anticipated future damages punitive damages sum ury may determine district treated amended complaint raising claims bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents supra dismissed respondent cause action entirety app pet cert relying decision fdic meyer district reasoned bivens action may maintained individual thus available petitioner corporate entity app pet cert respect urena unnamed individual defendants complaint dismissed statute limitations grounds appeals second circuit affirmed part reversed part remanded affirmed dismissal respondent claims individual defendants barred statute limitations respondent challenged ruling parties agree question whether bivens action might lie private individual presented respect petitioner appeals remarked meyer expressly declined expand category defendants actions may brought include federal agents federal agencies well quoting meyer supra emphasis deleted reasoned private entities like petitioner held liable bivens accomplish important bivens goal providing remedy constitutional violations granted certiorari bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents recognized first time implied private action damages federal officers alleged violated citizen constitutional rights respondent asks extend limited holding confer right action damages private entities acting color federal law contends must recognize federal remedy law wherever alleged constitutional deprivation matter victim alleged deprivation might alternative remedies elsewhere proposed remedy significantly deter principal wrongdoer individual private employee heretofore refused imply new substantive liabilities circumstances decline authority imply new constitutional tort expressly authorized statute anchored general jurisdiction decide cases arising constitution laws treaties see schweiker chilicky bush lucas first exercised authority bivens held victim fourth amendment violation federal officers may bring suit money damages officers federal bivens acknowledged congress never provided private right action federal officers fourth amendment many words provide enforcement award money damages consequences violation harlan concurring judgment borak case especially clear example exercise federal judicial power accord damages appropriate remedy absence express statutory authorization federal cause action finding special factors counseling hesitation absence affirmative action congress found implied damages remedy available fourth decade following bivens recognized implied damages remedy due process clause fifth amendment davis passman cruel unusual punishment clause eighth amendment carlson green davis carlson applied core holding bivens recognizing limited circumstances claim money damages federal officers abuse constitutional authority davis inferred new right action chiefly plaintiff lacked remedy alleged constitutional deprivation davis bivens damages nothing carlson inferred right action individual prison officials plaintiff alternative federal tort claims act ftca claim reasoned threat suit insufficient deter unconstitutional acts individuals bivens remedy recoverable individuals effective deterrent ftca remedy also found crystal clear congress intended ftca bivens serve parallel complementary sources liability since carlson consistently refused extend bivens liability new context new category defendants bush lucas supra declined create bivens remedy individual government officials first amendment violation arising context federal employment although plaintiff opportunity fully remedy constitutional violation held administrative review mechanisms crafted congress provided meaningful redress thereby foreclosed need fashion new judicially crafted cause action even defendants alleged civilian personnel stanley schweiker chilicky declined infer damages action individual government employees alleged violated due process handling social security applications observed decisions responded cautiously suggestions bivens remedies extended new contexts light decisions noted absence statutory relief constitutional violation means necessarily imply courts award money damages officers responsible violation therefore rejected claim bivens remedy implied simply want means challenging constitutional deprivation federal matter example creation bivens remedy obviously offer prospect relief injuries must go unredressed see also bush supra noting existing remedies provide complete relief plaintiff stanley supra irrelevant special factors analysis whether laws currently books afford stanley adequate federal remedy injuries internal quotation marks omitted long plaintiff avenue redress bedrock principles separation powers foreclosed judicial imposition new substantive liability chilicky supra recently fdic meyer unanimously declined invitation extend bivens permit suit federal agency even though agency congress waived sovereign immunity otherwise amenable suit opinion emphasized purpose bivens deter officer agency emphasis original citing carlson green supra reasoned given choice plaintiffs sue federal agency instead individual assert qualified immunity affirmative defense extent aggrieved parties less incentive bring damages claim individuals deterrent effects bivens remedy lost accordingly allow bivens claim federal agencies mean evisceration bivens remedy rather extension noted special factors counseled hesitation light potentially enormous financial burden agency liability entail discussion clear claim urged respondent fundamentally different anything recognized bivens subsequent cases years bivens jurisprudence extended holding twice provide otherwise nonexistent cause action individual officers alleged acted unconstitutionally provide cause action plaintiff lacked alternative remedy harms caused individual officer unconstitutional conduct circumstances present consistently rejected invitations extend bivens often reasons foreclose extension purpose bivens deter individual federal officers committing constitutional violations meyer made clear threat litigation liability adequately deter federal officers bivens purposes matter may enjoy qualified immunity plurality opinion recognizing corporations fare much worse juries individuals dissenting citing authorities logic meyer inferring constitutional tort remedy private entity like csc therefore foreclosed respondent claims even meyer deterrence rationale implying suit private corporations acting color federal law still necessary advance core deterrence purpose bivens argues corporations respond market pressures make decisions without regard constitutional obligations requiring payment constitutional harms commit best way discourage future harms may relevance bivens concerned solely deterring unconstitutional acts individual officers deterring conduct entity purpose bivens meyer implied damages remedy federal deposit insurance corporation agency policy led meyer constitutional deprivation meyer supra bivens inception based premise deterrence individual officers commit unconstitutional acts reason us consider extending bivens beyond core premise begin federal prisoners enjoy respondent contemplated remedy federal prisoner bop facility alleges constitutional deprivation may bring bivens claim offending individual officer subject defense qualified immunity prisoner may bring bivens claim officer employer bop respect alleged constitutional deprivation remedy lies individual remedy meyer found sufficient respondent timely pursue whether makes sense impose asymmetrical liability costs private prison facilities alone question congress us decide confronted situation claimants respondent shoes lack effective remedies cf bivens make considerably difficult respondent prevail theory ordinary negligence see farmer brennan eliberate indifference describes state mind blameworthy negligence also makes respondent situation altogether different bivens found alternative state tort remedies inconsistent even hostile remedy inferred fourth amendment federal officer appears door requests entry one always expected resist see claim authority enter likely unlock door yet lack resistance alone might foreclose cause action trespass privacy ibid therefore reasoned bivens implied constitutional tort remedy remain ed alternative resistance may amount crime internal quotation marks citation omitted logic apply respondent whose claim negligence deliberate indifference requires resistance official action whose lack alternative tort remedies due solely strategic inmates respondent position also full access remedial mechanisms established bop including suits federal injunctive relief grievances filed bop administrative remedy program arp see cfr explaining arp providing process inmates may seek formal review issue relates aspect confinement program provides yet another means allegedly unconstitutional actions policies brought attention bop prevented recurring unlike bivens remedy never considered proper vehicle altering entity policy injunctive relief long recognized proper means preventing entities acting unconstitutionally sum respondent plaintiff search remedy bivens davis seek cause action individual officer otherwise lacking carlson respondent instead seeks marked extension bivens contexts advance bivens core purpose deterring individual officers engaging unconstitutional wrongdoing caution toward extending bivens remedies new context caution consistently repeatedly recognized three decades forecloses extension judgment appeals reversed ordered correctional services corporation petitioner john malesko writ certiorari appeals second circuit november justice scalia justice thomas joins concurring join opinion agree narrow interpretation rationale bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents logically produce application circumstances case dissent doubtless correct broad interpretation rationale logically produce application inclined inclined construe bivens broadly joining opinion however mean imply narrowest rationale bivens apply new context extend holding bivens relic heady days assumed powers create causes action decreeing implied mere existence statutory constitutional prohibition points ante abandoned power invent implications statutory field see alexander sandoval even greater reason abandon constitutional field since implication imagined constitution presumably even repudiated congress limit bivens two cases davis passman carlson green precise circumstances involved correctional services corporation petitioner john malesko writ certiorari appeals second circuit november justice stevens justice souter justice ginsburg justice breyer join dissenting bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents affirmatively answered question reserved bell hood whether violation fourth amendment federal agent acting color authority gives rise cause action damages consequent upon unconstitutional conduct held violation eighth amendment federal prison officials gave rise bivens remedy despite fact plaintiffs also remedy federal tort claims act ftca stated bivens established victims constitutional violation federal agent right recover damages official federal despite absence statute conferring right emphasis added subsequent cases decided bivens remedy available every conceivable constitutional never however qualified holding eighth amendment violations actionable bivens see farmer brennan mccarthy madigan ever suggested category federal agents commit eighth amendment violations impunity parties us assumed respondent complaint alleged violation eighth violation committed federal agent private corporation employed bureau prisons perform functions otherwise performed individual employees federal government thus question presented case whether create exception straightforward application bivens carlson whether extend cases beyond core premise ante point evident fact prior recent decision fdic meyer courts appeals consistently correctly held corporate agents performing federal functions like human agents proper defendants bivens meyer concluded federal agencies suable bivens lead outcome reached today case discuss private corporate agents suggest agents viewed differently human ones rather meyer drew distinction federal agents agency federal government indeed repeated references federal deposit insurance corporation fdic status federal agency emphasized fdic affinity federal sovereign expressed concern damages sought directly federal agencies fdic creat potentially enormous financial burden federal government must kept mind meyer involved fdic waiver sovereign immunity meyer recognized cause action permitted sort lawsuit bivens presumed impossible direct action government moreover meyer bush lucas schweiker chilicky dealing cause action cause action alleged meyer violation procedural due process meyer noted bivens action alleging violation due process clause fifth amendment may appropriate contexts others substantive liability assumed present case respondent eighth amendment claim falls heartland substantive bivens meyer dispose case claims rationales underlying bivens namely lack alternative remedies deterrence present cases suit brought private corporation serving federal agent however common sense buttressed reasons supported holding bivens leads conclusion corporate agents treated favorably human agents first argues respondent enjoys alternative remedies corporate agent distinguish case bivens characterizes bivens progeny cases plaintiffs lacked alternative remedy ante bivens however even though plaintiff suit federal government state tort law may barred sovereign immunity suit officer state tort law theoretically possible moreover recognized carlson bivens plaintiffs also remedies available ftca thus incorrect portray bivens plaintiffs lacking avenue relief imply result respondent case substantially wider array remedies disposal bivens alternative remedies provide sufficient justification closing federal forum defendant private corporation claims individual defendants carlson light ftca alternative rejected ironic relies heavily holding assumption alternative effective remedies primarily negligence actions state available respondent see ante like justice harlan think entirely proper injuries compensable according uniform rules federal law especially light large element federal law must event control scope official defenses liability bivens opinion concurring judgment aside undermining uniformity reliance state tort law jeopardize protection full scope federal constitutional rights state law might comparable causes action tort claims like eighth amendment violation alleged see ante unconstitutional actions prison employees violations equal protection due process clauses may find parallel causes action state tort law even though respondent may able sue degree relief state law eighth amendment claim pleaded negligence future plaintiffs constitutional claims less like traditional torts necessarily second claims deterrence goals bivens served permitting liability ante citing meyer seriously maintained however tort remedies corporate employers less deterrent value actions employees previously noted organizational structure private prisons one subject ordinary competitive pressures normally help private firms adjust behavior response incentives tort suits provide pressures necessarily present government departments richardson mcknight thus private corporate entity issue readily distinguishable federal agency meyer indeed tragic consequence today decision clear incentive gives corporate managers privately operated custodial institutions adopt policies jeopardize constitutional rights tens thousands inmates raises concern imposing asymmetrical liability costs private prison facilities ante claims federal prisoners institutions sue officers unfair permit federal prisoners private institutions sue officer employer ibid permitting liability present case however produce symmetry private public prisoners unable sue principal government able sue primary federal agent government official corporation indeed decision creates asymmetry federal state prisoners housed private correctional facilities state prisoner may sue private prison deprivation constitutional rights see lugar edmondson oil permitting suit private corporations exercising state action yet denies remedy prisoner federal counterpart true never expressly held contours bivens identical however recognized sound jurisprudential reasons parallelism different standards claims state federal actors incongruous confusing butz economou internal quotation marks omitted cf bolling sharpe view decision constitution prohibits maintaining racially segregated public schools unthinkable constitution impose lesser duty federal government value parallelism fact furthered meyer since provided plaintiff remedy pressed similar claim state agency apparent critical discussion thoughtful opinions justice harlan contemporaries ante erroneous statement question presented case whether bivens extended allow recovery private corporation employed federal agent ante driving force behind decision disagreement holding bivens least two reasons improper allow decision case influenced predisposition first clear legislative materials cited carlson see also ante congress effectively ratified bivens remedy surely congress never sought abolish second rule part law years accorded full respect members whether endorsed rule first announced primary duty apply enforce settled law revise law accord notions sound policy respectfully dissent footnotes petitioner hardly unique regard bop since relied exclusively contracts private institutions state local governments operation halfway house facilities help federal prisoners reintegrate society bop contracts entities like petitioner also charitable organizations like volunteers america operates facilities indiana louisiana maryland minnesota new york texas salvation army arkansas florida illinois north carolina tennessee texas progress house association oregon triangle center illinois catholic social services pennsylvania courts appeals divided whether fdic meyer forecloses extension bivens private entities compare hammons norfolk southern nothing meyer prohibits bivens claim private corporation engages federal action kauffman school sofia cadc meyer conclusion public federal agencies subject bivens liability follows equivalent private entities liable either hold today since decision borak retreated previous willingness imply cause action congress provided one see central bank denver first interstate bank denver transamerica mortgage advisors lewis cannon university chicago rehnquist concurring last term noted abandoned view borak decades ago repeatedly declined revert understanding private causes action held sway years ago alexander sandoval justice stevens claim case implicate extension bivens post dissenting opinion might come surprise appeals twice characterized holding extending bivens liability reach private corporations see also ibid bivens liability extend private corporations justice stevens claims holding favor petitioner portends tragic consequence post jeopardize constitutional rights tens thousands inmates post refers examples cases suggesting private correctional providers routinely abuse take advantage inmates control post citing brief legal aid society new york amicus curiae see also brief american civil liberties union amicus curiae citing discussing abundant examples abuse one examples however private facility question housed state prisoners prisoners already enjoy right action private correctional providers true imperatives deterring unconstitutional conduct private correctional providers strong demand imply new right action directly constitution abuses authority less prevalent state facilities congress already provides liability trend appears opposite surprising given bop oversight monitoring private contract facilities see brief amicus curiae justice stevens mention government directed contractor thing subject claim recognized special circumstance contractor may assert defense boyle technologies record provide basis defense footnotes see fdic meyer schweiker chilicky bush lucas chappell wallace although might challenged sufficiency respondent constitutional claim see ante petitioner done see tr oral arg acknowledgment petitioner complaint eighth amendment violation petition certiorari presented single question whether bivens cause action damages implied private corporation acting color federal law pet cert see schowengerdt general dynamics reuber cadc gerena puerto rico legal dobyns yiamouyiannis chemical abstracts true one overruled circuit precedent light meyer held meyer dictates exclusion corporate entities bivens liability kauffman school sofia cadc however another explained conclusion way compelled meyer see hammons norfolk southern meyer also address present situation understood plaintiff real complaint case individual officers shielded qualified immunity denying qualified immunity private prison guards suit incorrectly assumes asked imply new constitutional tort ante tort however well established question whether remedy damages available limited class tortfeasors recognizes question whether bivens action lie individual employees private corporation like correctional services corporation csc raised present case ante petitioner respondent assumed bivens apply individuals amicus maintains liability appropriate bivens seem puzzling bivens liability attach private individual employees corporations subagents federal government corporate agents however explicitly maintains case reasoning opinion relies least part availability remedy employees private prisons cf ante noting meyer found sufficient remedy individual officer respondent timely pursue emphasis added although lightly references administrative remedies might available inmates means sort comprehensive administrative remedies previously contemplated bush schweiker blames respondent filed initial complaint pro se lack state remedies case according respondent failure bring negligence suit state due solely strategic choice ante strategic behavior generally speaking imaginable basis case us charge respondent acting strategically cf ibid discussing proving federal constitutional claim considerably difficult proving state negligence claim respondent filed complaint federal believed severely maltreated federal custody legal counsel advise otherwise without aid counsel respondent failed file state relief also failed name particular prison guard responsible injuries resulting eventual dismissal claims individual officers time barred respondent may unsophisticated plaintiff worst entirely diligent determining identify guards hardly said strategic choice driving force behind respondent litigation behavior amici respondent explain private prisons exempt much oversight public accountability faced bureau prisons federal entity see brief legal aid society new york amicus curiae indeed private prison corporation first loyalty stockholders rather public interest surprise measures jeopardizing prisoners rights likely private facilities public ones see also ante scalia concurring arguing bivens relic heady days limited along carlson green davis passman facts hostility core bivens new see carlson stevens dissenting