musick peeler garrett employers argued march decided june respondents insured named defendants suit inter alia based implied private right action securities exchange act rule securities exchange commission action eventually settled parties funding million settlement respondents brought lawsuit seeking contribution petitioners attorneys accountants involved stock offering prompted action district appeals consistent binding circuit precedent recognized respondents right seek contribution liability shortly latter ruled respondents favor however appeals eighth circuit held implied cause action contribution action held defendants action right seek contribution matter federal law pp federal courts authority imply right contribution action northwest airlines transport workers texas industries radcliff materials precedents based distinguished action created congress implied judiciary courts implied underlying liability first place unfair damages assessed courts disavow authority allocate liability theory congress addressed issue directly congress recognized judicial authority shape within limits cause action enacting insider trading securities fraud enforcement act statute respecting limitations periods included provisions acknowledging action without expressing intent define congress left task courts pp right contribution within contours action order ensure rules established govern actions symmetrical consistent act overall structure objectives must attempt infer congress addressed issue contribution included private right action express provision act see lampf pleva lipkind prupis petigrow gilbertson two sections act containing express private rights action close structure purpose intent action explicitly provides right contribution see consistency coherence therefore require like contribution rule adopted actions moreover evidence rule impede purposes action years since federal courts first recognized right contribution defendants showing right detracts effectiveness implied action interferes effective operation securities laws pp kennedy delivered opinion rehnquist white stevens scalia souter joined thomas filed dissenting opinion blackmun joined post charles bird argued cause petitioners brief robert steiner alvin stein mark schlesinger theodore olson argued cause respondents lawrence nagler nanci murdock robert zabb darrin meyer filed brief respondents employers insurance wausau et al andrew pincus kenneth geller william reifman michael vatis leonard novello richard miller dean ringel filed brief respondents peat marwick main et al robert long argued cause securities exchange commission amicus curiae urging affirmance brief acting solicitor general bryson deputy solicitor general mahoney michael dreeben paul gonson jacob stillman eric summergrad judith starr paul bennett david gold william lerach kevin roddy filed brief national association securities commercial law attorneys amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed american institute certified public accountants louis craco russell ryan first boston corporation et al stuart baskin thomas martin securities industry association barbara moses sam scott miller barry augenbraun william fitzpatrick justice kennedy delivered opinion joint responsibility tortious conduct question often arises whether compensate injured party may seek contribution joint tortfeasors paid damages paid less fair share case must determine whether defendants suit based implied private right action securities exchange act rule securities exchange commission action may seek contribution joint tortfeasors without addressing merits claim contribution case hold defendants action right seek contribution matter federal law cousins home furnishings made public offering stock december stock purchasers later brought class action cousins parent company various officers directors cousins two lead underwriters plaintiffs alleged stock offering misleading material respects violation securities act act stat securities exchange act act stat certain state laws named defendants settled plaintiffs million respondents insured named defendants funded million settlement subrogated rights insureds respondents brought lawsuit seeking contribution petitioners attorneys accountants involved public offering respondents complaint alleged professionals joint responsibility securities violations liable contribution various theories including right contribution based action central complaint original class suit proceedings district southern district california appeals ninth circuit parties disputed principles determining whether insureds paid fair share liability class settlement scant attention paid underlying issue whether liability action accompanied right contribution lack attention understandable existence right contribution well established ninth circuit smith mulvaney well number circuits jiffy lube securities litigation sirota solitron devices cert denied huddleston herman maclean aff part rev part grounds heizer ross three months appeals ruled favor respondents appeals eighth circuit created conflict basic issue whether defendants action right contribution light decisions contribution areas federal law eighth circuit ruled implied cause action contribution action chutich touche ross petitioners requested resolve conflict among circuits granted petition writ certiorari sole question presented whether federal courts may imply private right contribution section securities exchange act rule securities exchange commission pet cert ii requests recognize right contribution defendants liable federal law unfamiliar twice declined recognize action contribution federal laws outside arena securities regulation northwest airlines transport workers held employer right contribution unions alleged joint participants employer violations equal pay act title vii civil rights act later term texas industries radcliff materials determined right contribution recovery based violation sherman act hand endorsed nonstatutory right contribution among joint tortfeasors responsible injuring longshoreman cooper stevedoring fritz kopke careful note cooper stand proposition general right contribution federal law northwest airlines supra indeed rule announced cooper represented exercise authority provide equitable remedies cases within admiralty jurisdiction jurisdiction federal courts historic responsibility elaboration legal doctrine see reliable transfer purposes therefore cooper less instructive decisions texas industries northwest airlines instruction receive latter two cases distinguishable rather parallel matter us federal interests texas industries northwest airlines defined statutory provisions express creating substantive damages liability contribution sought recognizing applicable statutes implicate uniquely federal interests kind oblige courts formulate federal common law texas industries asked whether congress expressly clear implication envisioned contribution right accompany substantive damages right created failing whether congress intended courts power alter supplement remedies enacted see also northwest airlines supra inquiries helpful present context private right action rule implied judiciary theory courts recognize private remedies supplement federal statutory duties theory congress given unequivocal direction courts blue chip stamps manor drug stores thus futile ask whether congress also displayed clear intent create contribution right collateral remedy see franklin gwinnett county public schools scalia concurring texas industries northwest airlines controlling petitioners tell us precedents cases based control authorities caution creation new causes action universities research coutu transamerica mortgage advisors lewis touche ross redington teach creation new rights left legislatures courts petitioners remind us whether right tortfeasor seek contribution share share joint liability recognized statute see ann west supp ann matter common law see goldman davis broad street garage instances right thought separate independent cause action cf northwest airlines supra restatement second torts argument like argument based texas industries northwest airlines much force duty created one governing conduct subject liability express remedial provision fashioned congress one governing conduct already subject liability private suit however present state jurisprudence consider parties contribution sought definition persons entities alleged violated existing securities laws share joint liability wrong remedial scheme established federal courts even though asked recognize cause action supports suit parties duty duty contribute committed wrong courts already deemed actionable federal law violation securities laws gives rise private cause action question us ancillary one damages shared among persons entities already subject liability implied underlying liability first place disavow authority allocate theory congress addressed issue unfair damages assessed must confront law current form federal courts accepted exercised principal responsibility continuing elaboration scope right definition duties imposes recognized case arising act legal structure private statutory rights developed without clear indications congressional intent federal limited power define contours structure virginia bankshares sandberg proposition unanimous see ibid souter joined rehnquist white scalia jj kennedy joined marshall blackmun stevens concurring part dissenting part implied cause action well accepted cases become established part securities laws enforce meaningful remedy unless eliminate altogether see also blue chip stamps supra recognizing authority federal courts define contours private cause action rule flesh portions law respect neither congressional enactment administrative regulations offer conclusive guidance alone recognizing judicial authority shape within limits cause action existence action cumulative work design obvious legislative considerations enactment two recent federal statutes first insider trading securities fraud enforcement act stat added insider trading prohibition act see section othing section shall construed limit condition availability cause action implied provision title second statute recent congressional enactment respecting limitations periods actions following resolution two terms ago difficult statute limitations issue suits see lampf pleva lipkind prupis petigrow gilbertson congress intervened limiting retroactive effect decision caution intervention instructive approach parallel one adopted insider trading statute congress direct applicable limitation period private civil action implied section title act commenced june day prior issuance lampf pleva supp iii infer references acknowledgment action without expression legislative intent define see herman maclean huddleston merrill lynch pierce fenner smith curran indeed latter statute treats action accepted feature securities laws avoids entangling congress formulation task appear congress left us iii turn question whether right contribution within contours action parties devoted considerable portions briefs debating whether rule contribution contribution efficient equitable declined rule matters texas industries northwest airlines decline task assess relative merits competing rules rather attempt infer congress addressed issue action included express provision act see lampf pleva supra ernst ernst hochfelder exercise historical reconstruction sake ensure rules established govern action symmetrical consistent overall structure act particular portions act analogous private right action judicial creation although narrowed discretion regard years goals establishing limits action remained ensure action conflict congress express rights action promote clarity consistency coherence rely upon subject liability cf blue chip stamps effect congress objectives enacting securities laws santa fe industries green inquiring given congress might done though promising venture general proposition case yield answer find convincing true initial step drawing inference congressional intent language ernst ernst supra yields answer text provides little guidance asked specify elements aspects apparatus unique private liability arrangement including statute limitations lampf pleva supra reliance requirement basic levinson defense liability bateman eichler hill richards berner right contribution made attempt define precise contours private cause action congress occasion address limit compute allocate liability arising however two sections act noted close structure purpose intent action lampf pleva supra see also basic supra bateman eichler supra ernst ernst supra confers explicit right action favor private parties discloses congressional intent regarding definition apportionment liability among private parties two distinct reasons express causes action particular significance determining congress resolved question contribution provided private cause action first instructive target precise dangers focus lampf pleva supra intent motivating three sections deter fraud manipulative practices securities markets ensure full disclosure information material investment decisions randall loftsgaarden second eight express liability provisions contained acts impose liability upon defendants stand position similar defendants sake assessing whether entitled contribution three causes action impose direct liability defendants acts opposed derivative liability acts others three involve defendants violated securities law scienter ernst ernst supra three operate many instances impose liability multiple defendants acting concert loss securities regulation ed three based securities provisions enacted law congress acts six express liability provisions hand stand marked contrast implied remedy act act impose derivative liability act act require scienter instances see ernst ernst supra kern county land occidental petroleum act act often create joint defendant liability see pinter dahl kern county supra act original liability provision act added securities laws see lampf pleva sections contain nearly identical express provisions right contribution permitting defendant recover contribution cases contract person joined original suit liable make payment provisions time course tort law century reverse old rule contribution movement confined large part actions negligence harper james gray law torts ed express contribution provisions still cited important precedents permit contribution intentional torts see id ruder multiple defendants securities law fraud cases think explicit provisions contribution important inconsequential feature federal securities laws consistency requires us adopt like contribution rule right action existing rule given identity purpose behind similarity operation find ground ruling allowing contribution actions frustrate purposes statutory section derived conclusion consistent rule adopted vast majority courts appeals district courts considered question see jiffy lube securities litigation smith mulvaney sirota solitron devices huddleston herman maclean heizer ross national student marketing litigation dc investment club kleinert ed globus law research service sdny aff per curiam cert denied consider particular importance years since right contribution first recognized defendants dehass empire petroleum aff part vacated part grounds neither securities exchange commission federal courts suggested contribution right detracts effectiveness implied action interferes effective operation securities laws see brief securities exchange commission amicus curiae absent showing implied liability structure act whole frustrated finding right contribution paralleling right contribution analogous express liability provisions task complete resolution clear charged liability action right contribution parties joint responsibility violation iv judgment appeals affirmed ordered justice thomas justice blackmun justice join dissenting recognizing private right contribution securities exchange act securities exchange commission sec rule unfortunately nourishes judicial oak grown little legislative acorn blue chip stamps manor drug stores respectfully dissent decision cultivate new branch rule law agree description mission attempt infer congress addressed issue action included express provision act ante however disagree chosen method pursuing difficult quest words rule scarcely suggest either congress securities exchange commission foreordained existence private action blue chip stamps despite conceded inability divine language express intent congress acquiesced lower courts consensus implied right action existed rule superintendent ins bankers life casualty affiliated ute citizens utah see kardon national gypsum ed acquiescence entirely consistent case borak may suggested relatively permissive approach recognition implied rights action blue chip stamps supra although later decline read borak broadly virtually every provision securities acts gives rise implied private cause action touche ross redington never repudiated action cause reconsider whether action recognized summarizing rationale made attempt define precise contours private cause action congress occasion address limit compute allocate liability arising ante though statement adequate description came infer private right action adequate defense reasoning unlike majority assume courts accord different treatment implied rights action whose recognition may influenced borak particular private cause action may emerged weaken vigilance subsequent interpretation application action inquiries statutory text congressional intent legislative purpose remain intact consistently declined recognize implied private cause action antifraud provisions securities exchange act unnecessary ensure fulfillment congress purposes adopting act santa fe industries green quoting piper industries accordingly action must judicially delimited one way another unless congress addresses question blue chip stamps supra absence compelling reason allow contribution private suits seek keep breadth action grow ing beyond scope congressionally intended virginia bankshares sandberg abandonment restrained approach implied remedies stems mistaken assumption right contribution mere elemen aspec rule private liability apparatus ante unlike statute limitations reliance requirement defense liability however contribution requires wholly separate cause action case require us define elements claim clarify essential aspect liability scheme rather asked determine whether defendant enjoys distinct right recover joint tortfeasor recent decision established limitations period actions lampf pleva lipkind prupis petigrow gilbertson illustrates difference find decisive limitations period almost indispensable scheme civil liability even federal law prescribes express statute limitations ordinarily assume congress intended time limit delcostello teamsters rather borrow suitable statute rule timeliness source ibid contribution contrast generally unavailable common law see union stock yards omaha chicago jurisdictions seen fit provide contribution usually done resort legislation northwest airlines transport workers texas industries radcliff materials recognizes implied right contribution must endorse remedy contrary common law perhaps even legislative policy relevant jurisdiction lampf pleva like cases thus offer scant guidance question whether right contribution appropriate incident action whether congressional intent federal common law justifies expansion class entitled enforce rule private lawsuits conducting inquiry safely rely congress design distinct statutory provisions indeed inappropriate extension liability nullify effectiveness carefully drawn express actions congress provided sections act ernst ernst hochfelder however proper may examine related portions act fleshing details core action see lampf pleva scalia concurring part concurring judgment errs placing dispositive weight existence contribution rights act see ante proper analysis flows approach implied causes action general implied rights contribution particular deciding whether statute confers private right action ask whether congress either expressly implication intended create remedy touche ross transamerica mortgage advisors lewis congress expressly create contribution remedy may infer congress nevertheless intended clear implication confer right contribution texas industries supra northwest airlines supra exercise power craft federal common law federal courts may also fashion right contribution texas industries supra northwest airlines supra application familiar analytical framework compels conclude right contribution rule respect fashioning common law right contribution readily correctly concludes right contribution recognized cooper stevedoring fritz kopke bearing availability contribution elaborate federal statutory scheme governing purchases sales securities ante see also texas industries supra northwest airlines supra case therefore depends exclusively interpretation rule ii starting point every case involving construction statute language ernst ernst supra quoting blue chip stamps powell concurring nothing words rule suggests joint tortfeasors enjoy right contribution section makes unlawful person use employ connection purchase sale security registered national securities exchange security registered manipulative deceptive device contrivance contravention rules regulations commission may prescribe necessary appropriate public interest protection investors shall unlawful person employ device scheme artifice defraud make untrue statement material fact omit state material fact necessary order make statements made light circumstances made misleading engage act practice course business operates operate fraud deceit upon person connection purchase sale security cfr underlying structure act statutory scheme also negates existence contribution action northwest airlines notes presence express contribution rights act misconstrues significance provisions see ante ability legislate express contribution remedies act applies less force congress wished provide contribution remedy little trouble expressly blue chip stamps supra congress lacked opportunities modify action within last five years congress preserved altered action amendments act compare insider trading securities fraud enforcement act stat stating nothing new provision prohibiting insider trading shall construed limit condition availability cause action implied provision title supp iii altering retroactive effect limitations period adopted lampf pleva lipkind prupis petigrow gilbertson see generally ante congress intended defendants sue joint tortfeasors single enactment given effect policy congress failure act justify judicial elaboration action moreover contribution inconsistent established views action blue chip stamps supra held actual purchasers sellers securities entitled press private suits based conclusion largely language rule terms govern purchase sale security see powell concurring merits contribution action case turn whether attorneys accountants involved public offering bore joint responsibility securities violations ante even acknowledge respondents status subrogees securities sellers contribution action least one level removed underlying exchange securities blue chip stamps requirement actual purchase sale virtually evaporate contribution dispute embroiling separate groups professionals merely advised facilitated tainted securities transaction rule adopted today thus undermines discernable intent congress sec also elaboration regulatory scheme risks inhere hazardous enterprise recognizing private right action despite congressional silence touche ross iii invited join vigorous debate advantages disadvantages contribution various contribution schemes texas industries consistent prior practice adhere task resolving dispositive threshold question whether courts power create cause action absent legislation ibid whether answer question unfair litigate private actions ante irrelevant courts treat legislative administrative silence tacit license accomplish congress sec unable unwilling current condition rule afford right contribution congress remains free alter state affairs accordingly respectfully dissent footnotes cfr borak recognized private party right bring suit violation act even though congress made specific reference private right action