marx general revenue argued november decided february petitioner marx filed suit alleging general revenue corporation grc violated fair debt collection practices act fdcpa harassing falsely threatening order collect debt district ruled marx awarded grc costs pursuant federal rule civil procedure frcp gives district courts discretion award costs prevailing defendants nless federal statute provides otherwise marx sought vacate award arguing discretion rule displaced provides pertinent part finding action section brought bad faith purpose harassment may award defendant attorney fees reasonable relation work expended costs district rejected marx argument tenth circuit affirmed pertinent part agreeing costs allowed rule concluding nothing statute text history purpose indicates meant displace rule held section contrary thus displace district discretion award costs rule pp rule gives courts discretion award costs prevailing parties discretion displaced federal statute frcp provides otherwise contrary rule contrary argument marx amicus language original version rule suggest express provision costs displace rule regardless whether contrary rule pp section language context demonstrate provision contrary rule pp grc argues since address whether costs may awarded fdcpa case brought good faith set forth standard contrary rule therefore displace presumption discretion award costs marx concede statute expressly limit discretion award costs rule argue negative implication claim unless sets forth exclusive basis award costs phrase costs superfluous rule also argues specific cost statute displaces rule general rule pp argument marx depends critically whether allowance costs creates negative implication costs unavailable circumstances expressio unius canon invoke apply unless fair suppose congress considered unnamed possibility meant say barnhart peabody coal overcome contrary indications adopting particular rule statute probably meant signal exclusion vonn context indicates congress intend foreclose courts awarding costs rule first american rule litigant generally pays attorney fees long recognized federal courts inherent power award attorney fees narrow set circumstances party brings action bad faith statute thus best read codifying authority award attorney fees costs next second sentence must understood light first provides award attorney fees costs prevailing plaintiffs adding costs second sentence congress foreclosed argument defendants recover attorney fees plaintiffs bring action bad faith removed doubt defendants may recover costs well attorney fees cases finally language sharply contrasts statutes congress placed conditions awarding costs prevailing defendants see pp even assuming surplusage argument correct canon surplusage absolute first canon assists competing interpretation gives effect every clause word statute microsoft partnership interpretation gives effect every word second redundancy unusual statutes addressing costs see finally canon strongest interpretation render superfluous another part statutory scheme part rule force canon diminished pp lastly contrary claim specific standards displace general ones context statute indicates congress simply confirming background presumption courts may award defendants attorney fees costs plaintiff brings action bad faith marx bring suit bad faith specific provision applicable pp affirmed thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy ginsburg breyer alito joined sotomayor filed dissenting opinion kagan joined opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press olivea marx petitioner general revenue corporation writ certiorari appeals tenth circuit february justice thomas delivered opinion federal rule civil procedure gives district courts discretion award costs prevailing defendants nless federal statute provides otherwise fair debt collection practices act fdcpa stat provides finding action section brought bad faith purpose harassment may award defendant attorney fees reasonable relation work expended costs case presents question whether provides otherwise rule conclude provid otherwise thus district may award costs prevailing defendants fdcpa cases without finding plaintiff brought case bad faith purpose harassment petitioner olivea marx defaulted student loan guaranteed edfund division california student aid commission september edfund hired respondent general revenue corporation grc collect debt one month later marx filed fdcpa enforcement action marx alleged grc violated fdcpa harassing phone calls several times day falsely threatening garnish wages take money owed directly bank account shortly complaint filed grc made offer judgment federal rule civil procedure pay marx plus reasonable attorney fees costs settle claims marx respond offer subsequently amended complaint add claim grc unlawfully sent fax workplace requested information employment status following bench trial district found marx failed prove violation fdcpa prevailing party grc submitted bill costs seeking witness fees witness travel expenses deposition transcript fees disallowed several items costs pursuant federal rule civil procedure ordered marx pay grc marx filed motion vacate award costs arguing lacked authority award costs rules sets forth exclusive basis awarding costs fdcpa section provides relevant part finding action section brought bad faith purpose harassment may award defendant attorney fees reasonable relation work expended costs marx argued found brought case bad faith purpose harassment grc entitled costs district rejected marx argument concluding displace discretion award costs rule costs also awarded rule tenth circuit affirmed agreed part district reasoning particular disagreed costs allowed rule explained rule applies district enters judgment favor plaintiff less amount settlement offer plaintiff loses outright ibid citing delta air lines august district entered judgment favor marx concluded costs allowed rule nevertheless found costs allowed rule grants district courts discretion award costs prevailing parties unless federal statute federal rules civil procedure provide otherwise describing venerable presumption prevailing parties entitled costs concluded nothing text history purpose indicated meant displace rule judge lucero dissented arguing sensible reading district may award costs defendant upon finding action brought bad faith purpose harassment read otherwise rendered phrase costs superfluous emphasis original granted certiorari resolve conflict among circuits regarding whether prevailing defendant fdcpa case may awarded costs lawsuit brought bad faith purpose harassment compare case rouse law offices rory clark affirm judgment tenth circuit ii statutory construction cases ordinary meaning statutory language accurately expresses legislative purpose hardt reliance standard life ins slip quoting gross fbl financial services alteration original case must construe rule assess relationship rule straightforward provides relevant part unless federal statute rules order provides otherwise costs attorney fees allowed prevailing party tenth circuit correctly recognized rule codifies venerable presumption prevailing parties entitled notwithstanding presumption word makes clear decision whether award costs ultimately lies within sound discretion district see taniguchi kan pacific saipan slip federal rule civil procedure gives courts discretion award costs prevailing parties rule also makes clear however discretion displaced federal statute federal rule civil procedure provides otherwise statute provides otherwise rule contrary rule see moore moore federal practice ed hereinafter moore rule grants district courts discretion award costs statute contrary rule limits discretion statute may limit discretion several ways need expressly state displacing rule instance statute providing plaintiffs shall liable costs contrary rule precludes awarding costs prevailing defendants see petitioner shall liable costs district similarly statute providing plaintiffs may recover costs certain conditions contrary rule precludes awarding costs prevailing plaintiffs conditions satisfied see costs shall included judgment unless proper disclaimer filed patent trademark office importantly statutes provide costs contrary rule statute providing may award costs prevailing party example contrary rule limit discretion see moore number statutes state simply may award costs discretion provision contrary rule displace discretion rule marx amicus curiae suggest statute specifically provides costs displaces rule regardless whether contrary rule brief petitioner brief amicus curiae hereinafter brief relies original version rule provided express provision therefor made either statute rules costs shall allowed course prevailing party unless otherwise directs quoting rule though rules committee updated language rule change stylistic advisory committee notes supp accordingly asserts express provision costs displace rule persuaded however original version rule interpreted marx suggest original language meant ensure rule displace existing costs provisions contrary rule prior language statutes simply permitted award costs displace rule see moore moore federal practice ed hen permissive language used statute regarding costs district may pursuant rule exercise sound discretion relative allowance costs rather statutes set forth standard awarding costs different rule order displace rule see friedman ganassi holding express provision rule provide alternative standard awarding taxable costs original version rule consistent conclusion statute must contrary rule order displace turn whether contrary rule language context surrounding persuade us second sentence provides finding action section brought bad faith purpose harassment may award defendant attorney fees reasonable relation work expended costs grc contends statute address whether costs may awarded case plaintiff brought case good faith thus set forth standard awarding costs contrary rule view congress intended deter plaintiffs bringing nuisance lawsuits therefore expressly provided plaintiffs bring action bad faith purpose harassment may award attorney fees costs defendant statute address type case cases plaintiff brings action bad faith purpose harassment silent bad faith purpose harassment absent silence displace background rule discretion award costs marx take contrary view concede language expressly limit discretion award costs rule brief petitioner brief argue negative implication invoking expressio unius canon statutory construction contend specifying may award attorney fees costs action brought bad faith purpose harassment congress intended preclude awarding fees costs bad faith purpose harassment absent argue unless sets forth exclusive basis may award costs phrase costs superfluous according argument congress reason specify may award costs plaintiff brings action bad faith nevertheless awarded costs rule finally argues specific cost statute displaces rule general rule context surrounding persuades us grc interpretation correct argument marx depends critically whether allowance costs creates negative implication costs unavailable circumstances force negative implication however depends context long held expressio unius canon apply unless fair suppose congress considered unnamed possibility meant say barnhart peabody coal canon overcome contrary indications adopting particular rule statute probably meant signal exclusion vonn case context persuades us congress intend foreclose courts awarding costs rule first background presumptions governing attorney fees costs highly relevant contextual feature already explained rule prevailing party entitled recover costs losing party unless federal statute federal rules civil procedure order provides otherwise opposite presumption exists respect attorney fees bedrock principle known american rule ach litigant pays attorney fees win lose unless statute contract provides otherwise hardt slip quoting ruckelshaus sierra club notwithstanding american rule however long recognized federal courts inherent power award attorney fees narrow set circumstances including party brings action bad faith see chambers nasco explaining inherent power award attorney fees party whose litigation efforts directly benefit others sanction willful disobedience order sanction party acted bad faith vexatiously wantonly oppressive reasons alyeska pipeline service wilderness society undisputed leaves background rules attorney fees intact statute provides plaintiff brings action bad faith may award attorney fees defendant noted inherent power award fees based litigant bad faith even without see chambers supra codifies background rule attorney fees dubious infer congressional intent override background rule respect costs statute best read codifying authority award attorney fees next second sentence must understood light sentence precedes first sentence provides defendants violate fdcpa liable plaintiff attorney fees costs second sentence similarly provides plaintiffs bring action bad faith purpose harassment may liable defendant fees costs congress excluded costs second sentence plaintiffs might argued expression costs first sentence exclusion costs second meant defendants recover attorney fees plaintiffs bring action bad faith adding costs second sentence congress foreclosed argument thereby removing doubt defendants may recover costs well attorney fees plaintiffs bring suits bad faith see ali federal bureau prisons explaining phrase superfluous used remove doubt issue fort stewart schools flra explaining technically unnecessary examples may inserted abundance caution fact might negative implication costs precluded depending whether congress included excluded phrase costs weighs giving effect implied limitation finally language sharply contrasts statutes congress placed conditions awarding costs prevailing defendants see costs shall included judgment unless proper disclaimer filed patent trademark office prior commencement action emphasis added action brought judicial officer officer shall held liable costs unless action clearly excess officer jurisdiction emphasis added although congress need use explicit language limit discretion rule use explicit language statutes cautions inferring limitation statutes confirm congress knows limit discretion rule desires see small thomas dissenting explaining congress explicit use language provisions shows specifies restrictions wants congress intended second sentence displace rule easily done using word setting forth condition finding action brought bad faith purpose harassment discussion suggests also persuaded marx objection interpretation renders phrase costs superfluous noted supra phrase costs superfluous congress included remove doubt defendants may recover costs plaintiffs bring suits bad faith even assuming interpretation renders phrase costs superfluous alter conclusion canon surplusage absolute rule see arlington central school dist bd ed murphy generally presumed statutes contain surplusage instances surplusage unknown connecticut nat bank germain redundancies across statutes unusual events drafting considerably less force case first canon surplusage assists competing interpretation gives effect every clause word statute microsoft partnership slip internal quotation marks omitted case interpretation gives effect every word marx admit inherent power award attorney fees defendant plaintiff brings action bad faith consequently need congress specify courts power superfluous insofar addresses attorney fees light redundancy overly concerned reference costs may redundant well second redundancy hardly unusual statutes addressing costs see slip numerous statutes overlap rule see may award prevailing party costs action supp consumer financial protection bureau may recover costs connection prosecuting action prevailing party action ed may award costs suit reasonable fees attorneys expert witnesses prevailing party case successful action discretion may award costs action may award prevailing party costs supp may also discretion award costs attorneys fees prevailing party ed may discretion allow reasonable attorney fee paid defendant costs action discretion may allow prevailing party reasonable attorney fee costs discretion may allow prevailing party reasonable attorney fee costs may award litigation costs reasonably incurred finally canon surplusage strongest interpretation render superfluous another part statutory scheme cf jicarilla apache nation slip cases noted past hesitant adopt interpretation congressional enactment renders superfluous another portion quoting mackey lanier collection agency service part rule force canon diminished lastly contends establishes explicit standards displace rule general default standard brief see also ec term years trust precisely drawn detailed statute general quoting brown gsa accept argument negative implication argument might persuasive context indicates congress simply confirming background rule courts may award defendants attorney fees costs plaintiff brings action bad faith statute speaks one type case case harassing plaintiff marx bring suit bad faith case fal within ambit specific provision brief see also radlax gateway hotel llc amalgamated bank slip conduct issue falls within scope provisions specific presumptively governs emphasis original accordingly canon inapplicable iii conclude second sentence contrary rule thus displace district discretion award costs rule need address grc alternative argument costs required rule judgment appeals affirmed ordered sotomayor dissenting olivea marx petitioner general revenue corporation writ certiorari appeals tenth circuit february justice sotomayor justice kagan joins dissenting federal rule civil procedure default standard grants district courts discretion award litigation costs prevailing party default however gives way federal statute includes costs provision provides otherwise fair debt collection practices act fdcpa stat et contains costs provision provides otherwise apparent statute plain language limits discretion award costs prevailing defendants cases brought bad faith purpose harassment reaching opposite conclusion ignores plain meaning fdcpa rule renders statutory language issue case meaningless respectfully dissent majority correctly recognizes see ante fundamental principle statutory construction begin language statute ron pair enterprises ingalls shipbuilding director office workers compensation programs caminetti presume congress means statute says connecticut nat bank germain statute language plain sole function courts enforce according terms ron pair internal quotation marks omitted basic tenet appropriate starting point interpreting rule invoking principle however majority casts aside entirely interpreting statute rule rule relevant nless federal statute provides otherwise costs attorney fees allowed prevailing party first question means statute provid otherwise rule phrase provides otherwise defined federal rules civil procedure look ordinary meaning asgrow seed winterboer common usage provide otherwise means make stipulation differen webster third new international dictionary webster third defining provide otherwise respectively see random house dictionary english language ed random house arrange stipulate another manner oxford english dictionary ed oxford dictionary stipulate another way different manner reading plain text confirmed original codification rule made clear express provision relating costs statute sufficient displace accordingly displace rule federal statute need address costs way different necessarily inconsistent reason straightforward congress enacted provision respect costs statute longer need default gives way design rule sensible many statutes contain specific costs provisions moore federal practice ed noting statutes far numerous list comprehensively rule therefore consistent canon statutory interpretation precisely drawn detailed statute general remedies hinck crawford fitting gibbons erika purporting interpret ordinary meaning rule ante majority immediately abandons ordinary meaning majority concludes statute provides otherwise purposes rule contrary default ante majority cite even single dictionary definition support reading despite principle definition widely reflected dictionaries generally governs possible lacking dictionary support interpretation majority relies instead upon treatise published nearly years rule adoption see ante citing moore moore federal practice ed otherwise means different webster third see supra majority preferred term art contrary sets higher bar signifies opposite proposition fact condition incompatible another webster third emphasis added see also american heritage dictionary english language ed opposed character purpose oxford dictionary opposed nature tendency diametrically different extremely unlike random house pposite nature character diametrically mutually opposed indeed majority reading square everyday meaning otherwise consider example medication labeled instruction take twice day unless otherwise directed doctor advises patient take medicine morning patient understand mean take medicine day morning although instruction take medication morning incompatible taking twice day taken evening well ordinary english speaker interpret otherwise mean doctor specific instructions entirely supersede printed bottle rule default supplanted whenever congress provides specific instructions diametrically opposed thus straightforward question case whether implements different standard respect costs rule provides otherwise relevant finding action section brought bad faith purpose harassment may award defendant attorney fees reasonable relation work expended costs readily apparent provision different default rule congress described specificity single circumstance costs may awarded far merely restating district discretion award costs provision imposes prerequisite exercise discretion finding action brought bad faith purpose harassment text plain need proceed even relevant canons statutory interpretation lend added support reading negative implication reading accords expressio unius exclusio alterius canon instructs congress includes one possibility statute excludes another implication see chevron echazabal rule reinforces text makes clear limiting discretion award costs cases brought bad faith purpose harassment congress foreclosed award costs petitioner interpretation statute also strongly favored rule statutes read avoid superfluity basic interpretative canons statute constructed effect given provisions part inoperative superfluous void insignificant corley quoting hibbs winn respondent reading mostly acknowledges renders entire sentence meaningless reiterates powers federal courts already possess respect costs attorney fees see brief respondent majority rejects argument citing rule canon competing interpretation gives effect every clause word statute ante quoting microsoft partnership slip view neither available interpretations eliminate superfluity attorney fees provision redundant reading ante canon superfluity surely counsels interpretation renders entire provision issue superfluous competing interpretation least render part provision meaningful majority observation redundancy unusual ante provisions relating costs make canon inapplicable congress sometimes drafts redundant language respect costs congress instead drafted specific language permits award costs satisfaction condition interpreting negative implication consistent construction another statute includes similar language cooper industries aviall services opinion thomas considered provision comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act provided ny person may seek contribution civil action section title emphasis added rejected argument word may indicated civil action one exclusive circumstance right contribution available instead adopted natural reading text holding party ability seek contribution limited phrase civil action contribution available lawsuit pending ibid logic applies imposes closely analogous condition discretion award costs first sentence underscores congress implemented different rule rule sentence provides debt collector violates fdcpa liable prevailing plaintiff costs action together reasonable attorney fee determined sentence makes losing defendant always liable costs action clear departure rule discretionary default cf taniguchi kan pacific saipan slip congress deviated rule first sentence reasonable reading sentence immediately follows rule prevailing defendants takes similar path majority believes reading costs provision follows first sentence well different reason ante suggests congress included costs second sentence plaintiff might able argue inclusion costs first sentence exclusion costs second indicated defendants recover fees action brought bad faith majority speculates congress included costs second sentence foreclose argument text previous sentence makes plain however second sentence departs rule default majority offers evidence support supposition congress intended different moreover see basis invoking potential confusion indulging speculation explain away words congress chose ante members majority expressed doubt relevance legislative history claiming relying upon analogous entering crowded cocktail party looking one friends conroy aniskoff scalia concurring judgment speculating whole cloth congressional intent majority surely problematic majority saved trouble look friends party simply invites ii reduced essence majority analysis turns reading context calls venerable presumption prevailing parties entitled costs see ante even appropriate consider background presumption rather reading plain text issue majority characterization presumption best incomplete first suggestion presumption regarding costs venerable one american law overstatement ibid true majority points prior federal rules prevailing parties entitled costs right actions law courts discretion award costs equity proceedings ante see wright miller doctrine governing costs law carved important exception statutory provisions set forth different statute courts simply apply assessment background principles underlying approach majority glosses longstanding expectation congress often enacts different rules respect costs rules govern second rule embraces exception specifies statute displace default rule repeat rule merely enacts default standard applies unless among things statute rule provides otherwise reasons explained congress enacted exactly statute clear text conditions award costs satisfaction condition previous sentence provision breaks default plain text rule dictates result case accordingly reverse tenth circuit hold provides otherwise rule district award costs prevailing defendant fdcpa action except upon showing action brought bad faith purpose harassment respectfully dissent footnotes fdcpa consumer protection statute prohibits certain abusive deceptive unfair debt collection practices see fdcpa provision authorizes aggrieved person recover damages debt collector fails comply provision fdcpa rule defendant makes settlement offer plaintiff rejects later obtains judgment less favorable one offered plaintiff must pay costs incurred defendant offer made see fed rule civ proc judgment offeree finally obtains favorable unaccepted offer offeree must pay costs incurred offer made prior adoption federal rules prevailing parties entitled costs right actions law courts discretion award costs equity proceedings see ex parte peterson equity proceedings allowance imposition costs unless controlled statute rule matter discretion uniformly held actions law prevailing party entitled costs right except cases express statutory provision established principles costs denied citation omitted mansfield swan long established practice universally recognized rule common law actions law prevailing party entitled recover judgment costs dissent provides stable definition provides otherwise first argues statute provides otherwise different rule post opinion sotomayor interpretation renders rule meaningless every statute different insofar exact copy rule next argues statute provides otherwise provision relating costs post view statute providing may award costs prevailing party provide otherwise think statute provides otherwise provides treatise dissent relies supports view see wright miller kane federal practice procedure ed supp statutes permissive character inconsistent discretion given district rule finally dissent seems implicitly accept otherwise means contrary course arguing doctor instruction take medication supersede instruction medication label twice day unless otherwise directed patient understand doctor advice mean take medicine day morning post patient understands doctor mean day morning agree advice provide otherwise doctor order contrary label instruction reasons set forth part however convinced contrary rule undisputed grc entitled costs district find marx brought action bad faith rule independently authorizes district courts award costs prevailing parties question case whether costs allowed whether precludes award costs rule indeed congress intended foreclose discretion award costs chosen circuitous way statute sets forth circumstances may award costs marx view consequence statute set forth circumstances may award costs section provides except otherwise provided section debt collector fails comply provision subchapter respect person liable person amount equal sum actual damages sustained person result failure case action individual additional damages may allow exceeding case class action amount named plaintiff recovered subparagraph ii amount may allow class members without regard minimum individual recovery exceed lesser per centum net worth debt collector case successful action enforce foregoing liability costs action together reasonable attorney fee determined finding action section brought bad faith purpose harassment may award defendant attorney fees reasonable relation work expended costs marx also suggests similar pipeline safety act provides may award costs prevailing defendant action unreasonable frivolous meritless never occasion interpret interaction rule marx grc also spar purpose brief petitioner brief reply brief brief respondent marx contend congress intended limit discretion award costs prevailing defendants fdcpa plaintiffs often poor may deterred challenging unlawful debt collection practices possibility held liable defendant costs purposive argument overcome language context even find unpersuasive rule require courts award costs prevailing defendants district courts may appropriately consider fdcpa plaintiff indigency deciding whether award costs see badillo central steel wire within discretion district consider plaintiff indigency denying costs rule footnotes original codification rule provided xcept express provision therefor made either statute rules costs shall allowed course prevailing party unless otherwise directs ante quoting rule emphasis added internal quotation marks omitted language rule later revised current form majority acknowledges rules committee indicated changes ibid quoting advisory committee notes supp see wright miller kane federal practice procedure ed supp hereinafter wright miller rule provides ordinarily prevailing party shall allowed costs attorney fees unless provision costs made federal statute civil rules emphasis added see mci telecommunications american telephone telegraph opinion scalia rejecting argument alternative definition control meaning modify irtually every dictionary aware says modify means change moderately minor fashion majority suggests canon apply aids fair suppose congress considered unnamed possibility meant say ante quoting barnhart peabody coal best evidence congressional intent however statutory text congress enacted west virginia univ hospitals casey plain language makes clear congress meant foreclose possible meanings see supra see telemarketing consumer fraud abuse prevention act may award costs suit reasonable fees attorneys expert witnesses prevailing party fair housing act civil action discretion may allow prevailing party reasonable attorney fee costs see also failure recover jurisdictional amount majority explain speculation legislative intent persuasive solicitor general view saddling potential plaintiffs costs undermine fdcpa enforcement brief amicus curiae quoting jerman carlisle mcnellie rini kramer ulrich slip solicitor general interpretation recoveries cases certain large consumers may deterred bringing fdcpa claims faced risk paying costs see brief outcome thwart congress expectation fdcpa primarily enforced consumers ibid see ex parte peterson actions law prevailing party entitled costs right except cases express statutory provision established principles costs denied emphasis added see also treadwell sdny prevailing party shall entitled costs cases unless otherwise expressly provided law emphasis added internal quotation marks omitted payne costs common law actions federal courts rev reason numerous changes acts congress respecting costs many older cases safe precedents care exercised therefore make intelligent use cases decided prior enactment various statutes