carey piphus argued december decided march actions public school students school officials wherein students found suspended school without procedural due process students absent proof actual injury entitled recover nominal damages pp basic purpose damages award compensate persons injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights pp purpose rules governing compensation injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights tailored interests protected particular right question rules damages defined interests protected various branches tort law pp mental emotional distress caused denial procedural due process presumed occur case presumed damages common law defamation per se although distress compensable neither likelihood injury difficulty proving great justify awarding compensatory damages without proof injury actually caused pp issues elements prerequisites recovery damages appropriate compensate injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights must considered reference nature interests protected particular right question therefore cases dealing awards damages injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights right procedural due process controlling case pp right procedural due process absolute sense depend upon merits claimant substantive assertions importance organized society procedural due process observed denial procedural due process actionable nominal damages without proof actual injury therefore determined suspensions students case justified nevertheless entitled recover nominal damages pp powell delivered opinion burger brennan stewart white rehnquist stevens joined marshall concurred result blackmun took part consideration decision case earl hoffenberg argued cause petitioners briefs michael murray john elson argued cause respondents brief david goldberger leon fieldman filed brief national school boards assn amicus curiae urging reversal justice powell delivered opinion case brought consider elements prerequisites recovery damages students suspended public elementary secondary schools without procedural due process appeals seventh circuit held students entitled recover substantial nonpunitive damages even suspensions justified even prove actual injury caused denial procedural due process disagree hold absence proof actual injury students entitled recover nominal damages respondent jarius piphus freshman chicago vocational high school school year january school hours school principal saw piphus another student standing outdoors school property passing back forth principal described irregularly shaped cigarette principal approached students unnoticed smelled believed strong odor burning marihuana also saw piphus try pass packet cigarette papers student students became aware principal presence threw cigarette nearby hedge principal took students school disciplinary office directed assistant principal impose usual suspension violation school rule use drugs students protested smoking marihuana avail piphus allowed remain school although class remainder school day assistant principal tried without success reach mother suspension notice sent piphus mother days later two meetings arranged among piphus mother sister school officials representatives legal aid clinic purpose meetings determine whether piphus smoking marihuana rather explain reasons suspension following unfruitful exchange views piphus mother guardian ad litem filed suit petitioners federal district jurisdictional counterpart charging piphus suspended without due process law violation fourteenth amendment complaint sought declaratory injunctive relief together actual punitive damages amount piphus readmitted school temporary restraining order eight days suspension respondent silas brisco sixth grade clara barton elementary school chicago school year september brisco came school wearing one small earring previous school year school principal issued rule wearing earrings male students believed practice denoted membership certain street gangs increased likelihood gang members terrorize students brisco reminded rule refused remove earring asserting symbol black pride gang membership assistant principal talked brisco mother advising son suspended days remove earring brisco mother supported son position suspension imposed brisco mother guardian ad litem filed suit federal district charging brisco suspended without due process law violation fourteenth amendment complaint sought declaratory injunctive relief together actual punitive damages amount brisco readmitted school pendency proceedings preliminary injunction days suspension piphus brisco cases consolidated trial submitted stipulated records district held students suspended without procedural due process also held petitioners entitled qualified immunity damages second branch wood strickland known lengthy suspension without adjudicative hearing type violate procedural due process app pet cert despite holdings district declined award damages plaintiffs put evidence record quantify damages record completely devoid evidence even form basis speculative inference measuring extent injuries plaintiffs claims damages therefore fail complete lack proof ibid respondents appeal appeals reversed remanded first held district erred granting declaratory injunctive relief also held district considered evidence submitted respondents judgment tended prove pecuniary value day school missed suspended said however respondents entitled recover damages representing value missed school time petitioners showed remand cause suspension therefore respondents suspended even proper hearing held finally appeals held even district found remand respondents suspensions justified entitled recover substantial damages simply denied procedural due process relying earlier decision hostrop board junior college dist cert denied stated damages awarded even case bar proof individualized injury plaintiff mental distress granted certiorari consider whether action deprivation procedural due process plaintiff must prove actually injured deprivation may recover substantial damages ii title rev stat derived civil rights act stat provides 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 petitioners contend elements prerequisites recovery damages species tort liability parallel recovery damages common law torts particular urge purpose award damages compensate persons injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights plaintiffs required prove rights violated also injury caused violation order recover substantial damages unless respondents prove actually injured deprivation procedural due process petitioners argue entitled nominal damages respondents seem make two different arguments support holding first contend substantial damages awarded deprivation constitutional right whether injury caused deprivation say appropriate constitutional rights valuable need deter violations constitutional rights respondents believe view reflects accurately congress enacted second respondents argue even purpose damages award petitioners contend primarily compensate persons injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights every deprivation procedural due process may presumed cause injury presumption say relieve necessity proving injury actually caused insofar petitioners contend basic purpose damages award compensate persons injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights better argument rights constitutional otherwise exist vacuum purpose protect persons injuries particular interests contours shaped interests protect legal system concept damages reflects view legal rights cardinal principle damages law compensation injury caused plaintiff defendant breach duty harper james law torts emphasis original implicitly recognized applicability principle actions stating damages available section actions found violative constitutional rights caused compensable injury wood strickland emphasis supplied see codd velger brennan dissenting adickes kress brennan concurring dissenting see also bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents action damages directly fourth amendment harlan concurring judgment lower federal courts appear generally agree damages awards determined compensation principle members congress enacted address directly question damages principle damages designed compensate persons injuries caused deprivation rights hardly foreign many lawyers congress two sections civil rights act appear incorporate principle reason suggests reading differently extent congress intended awards deter deprivation constitutional rights evidence meant establish deterrent formidable inherent award compensatory damages see imbler pachtman white concurring judgment less difficult conclude damages awards governed principle compensation apply principle concrete cases centuries common law torts developed set rules implement principle person compensated fairly injuries caused violation legal rights rules defining elements damages prerequisites recovery provide appropriate starting point inquiry well clear however tort rules damages provide complete solution damages issue every case cases interests protected particular branch common law torts may parallel closely interests protected particular constitutional right cases may appropriate apply tort rules damages directly action see adickes kress brennan concurring dissenting cases interests protected particular constitutional right may also protected analogous branch common law torts see monroe pape harlan concurring frankfurter dissenting part adickes kress supra brennan concurring dissenting bivens six unknown fed narcotic agents harlan concurring judgment cases task difficult one adapting rules damages provide fair compensation injuries caused deprivation constitutional right although task adaptation one delicacy case demonstrates must undertaken purpose defeated injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights went uncompensated simply common law recognize analogous cause action cf jones hildebrant white dissenting sullivan little hunting park order purpose rules governing compensation injuries caused deprivation constitutional rights tailored interests protected particular right question rules damages defined interests protected various branches tort law agree justice harlan experience judges dealing private tort claims supports conclusion courts law capable making types judgment concerning causation magnitude injury necessary accord meaningful compensation invasion constitutional rights bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents supra harlan concurring judgment principles mind turn problem compensation case hand due process clause fourteenth amendment provides shall state deprive person life liberty property without due process law case appeals held petitioners prove remand respondents suspended even proper hearing held respondents entitled recover damages compensate injuries caused suspensions thought case failure accord procedural due process properly viewed cause suspensions ibid cf mt healthy city board ed doyle arlington heights metropolitan housing dev suggested circumstances award damages injuries caused suspensions constitute windfall rather compensation respondents citing hostrop board junior college dist cf mt healthy city board ed doyle supra understand parties disagree conclusion parties disagree holding appeals respondents entitled recover substantial although unspecified damages compensate injury inherent nature wrong even suspensions justified even fail prove denial procedural due process actually caused real intangible injury respondents elaborating theme submit holding correct injury fairly may presumed flow every denial procedural due process argument addition protecting unjustified deprivations due process clause also guarantees feeling treatment government committee mcgrath frankfurter concurring contend deprivation protected interests without procedural due process even premise deprivation erroneous inevitably arouses strong feelings mental emotional distress individual denied feeling treatment analogize case defamation per se plaintiff relieved necessity producing proof whatsoever injured order recover substantial compensatory damages mccormick law damages petitioners deny purpose procedural due process convey individual feeling government dealt fairly well minimize risk mistaken deprivations protected interests go far concede proper case persons respondents position might well recover damages mental emotional distress caused denial procedural due process petitioners argument limited one injury presumed occur plaintiffs least put proof issue plaintiffs tort actions agree petitioners respect observed another context doctrine presumed damages common law defamation per se oddity tort law allows recovery purportedly compensatory damages without evidence actual loss gertz robert welch doctrine defended grounds forms defamation actionable per se virtually certain cause serious injury reputation kind injury extremely difficult prove see white dissenting moreover statements defamatory per se nature likely cause mental emotional distress well injury reputation arguably little reason require proof kind injury either considerations support respondents contention damages presumed flow every deprivation procedural due process first reasonable assume every departure procedural due process matter circumstances minor inherently likely cause distress publication defamation per se cause injury reputation distress deprivation protected interest substantively justified procedures deficient respect may well suffer distress procedural irregularities indeed contrast immediately distressing effect defamation per se person may even know procedures deficient enlists aid counsel challenge perceived substantive deprivation moreover deprivation justified procedures deficient whatever distress person feels may attributable justified deprivation rather deficiencies procedure appeals held injury caused justified deprivation including distress properly compensable ambiguity causation absent case defamation per se provides additional need requiring plaintiff convince trier fact actually suffered distress denial procedural due process finally foresee particular difficulty producing evidence mental emotional distress actually caused denial procedural due process distress personal injury familiar law customarily proved showing nature circumstances wrong effect plaintiff sum although mental emotional distress caused denial procedural due process compensable hold neither likelihood injury difficulty proving great justify awarding compensatory damages without proof injury actually caused appeals believed respondents urge cases dealing awards damages racial discrimination denial voting rights denial fourth amendment rights support presumption damages procedural due process denied many cases relied upon help respondents held implied actual intangible injury must proved compensatory damages may recovered others simply address issue importantly elements prerequisites recovery damages appropriate compensate injuries caused deprivation one constitutional right necessarily appropriate compensate injuries caused deprivation another said supra issues must considered reference nature interests protected particular constitutional right question reason without intimating opinion merits deem cases relied upon controlling iii even respondents suspensions justified even suffer actual injury fact remains deprived right procedural due process enough invoke procedural safeguards fourteenth amendment significant property interest stake whatever ultimate outcome hearing fuentes shevin see codd velger stevens dissenting coe armour fertilizer works courts traditionally vindicated deprivations certain absolute rights shown caused actual injury award nominal sum money making deprivation rights actionable nominal damages without proof actual injury law recognizes importance organized society rights scrupulously observed time remains true principle substantial damages awarded compensate actual injury case exemplary punitive damages deter punish malicious deprivations rights right procedural due process absolute sense depend upon merits claimant substantive assertions importance organized society procedural due process observed see boddie connecticut committee mcgrath frankfurter concurring believe denial procedural due process actionable nominal damages without proof actual injury therefore hold upon remand district determines respondents suspensions justified respondents nevertheless entitled recover nominal damages exceed one dollar petitioners judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered justice blackmun took part consideration decision case footnotes complaint named defendants individually official capacities principal school general superintendent schools city chicago members board education city chicago also named plaintiff brisco suit people save humanity push religious corporation organized laws illinois membership includes parents children chicago public schools district held push standing maintain suit ruling challenged appeal addition procedural due process claim brisco complaint alleged enforcement rule violated right freedom expression first fourteenth amendments neither passed claim complaint named defendants individually official capacities principal school general superintendent schools city chicago members board education city chicago illinois superintendent public instruction district granted latter party motion dismiss district read goss lopez supra requiring formal procedures suspensions days suspensions less days set forth detailed list procedural requirements see app pet cert petitioners challenged either holding respondents denied procedural due process listing rights must granted although respondents suspensions occurred goss lopez decided district thought petitioners placed notice suspensions violated procedural due process linwood board ed city peoria cert denied petitioners challenged holding district expressly held petitioners lose immunity first branch wood strickland act malicious intention cause deprivation constitutional rights injury student record barren evidence suggesting defendants acted maliciously enforcing disciplinary policies plaintiffs undoubtedly defendants believed protecting integrity educational process app pet cert see also dobbs law remedies pp mccormick law damages prosser law torts ed see ex rel tyrrell speaker ex rel larkins oswald magnett pelletier stolberg members bd trustees state colleges donovan reinbold see hilliard law torts ch ed sedgwick measure damages ed thus one proponent civil rights act asked debate hat legislation appropriate give person injured another color state laws remedy civil action cong globe remarks wilson one opponent complained deprivation may slightest conceivable character damages estimation sensible man may five dollars even five cents may lawyers call merely nominal damages yet section jurisdiction civil action given federal courts instead prosecuted courts app remarks thurman see also nahmod section background tort liability ind section act stat codified made unlawful conspire inter alia purpose depriving person class persons equal protection laws equal privileges immunities laws provided emphasis supplied one persons engaged conspiracy shall cause done act furtherance object conspiracy whereby person shall injured person property deprived exercising right privilege citizen person injured deprived rights privileges may maintain action recovery damages occasioned injury deprivation rights privileges one persons engaged conspiracy section act stat codified provided emphasis supplied ny person persons knowledge wrongs conspired done mentioned second section act committed power prevent aid preventing shall neglect refuse wrongful act shall committed person persons shall liable person injured legal representatives damages caused wrongful act say exemplary punitive damages might awarded proper case specific purpose deterring punishing violations constitutional rights see silver cormier stengel belcher cert dismissed spence staras caperci huntoon cert denied mansell saunders basista weir although imply approval disapproval cases note basis award case district specifically found petitioners act malicious intention deprive respondents rights injury see supra appeals approved award damages also note potential liability defendants attorney fees see civil rights attorney fees awards act pub stat amending provides additional means inconsequential assurance agents state deliberately ignore due process rights see also criminal counterpart discussions problems fashioning damages awards see generally mccormack federalism section limitations judicial enforcement constitutional protections part rev nahmod supra yudof liability constitutional torts public school official cal rev comment civil actions damages federal civil rights statutes texas rev looked common law torts similar fashion constructing immunities see imbler pachtman cases discussed title authorizes courts look common law necessary furnish suitable remedies see dixon love ingraham wright arnett kennedy powell concurring part result part white concurring dissenting marshall dissenting mitchell grant goldberg kelly courts appear taken contrary view cases public employees holding property interests jobs discharged cause without procedural due process thomas ward zimmerer spencer horton orange county bd see also burt board trustees edgefield county school opinion winter respondents also contend injury presumed even guilty conduct charged deprived chance present facts arguments mitigation initial decisionmaker cf gagnon scarpelli morrissey brewer claim never known anything exercise opportunity plead one cause judgmental discretionary grounds availed brief respondents previously indicated appeals held respondents recover damages injuries caused suspensions district determines respondents suspended even proper hearing held holding respondents challenge necessarily assumes district determine outcome respondents received hearing presume determination include consideration likelihood mitigating circumstances respondents point swayed initial decisionmakers nature harm resulting defamatory publications frequently susceptible objective proof libel slander work evil ways invidious subtle harper james law torts see also restatement torts comment essence libel per se publication writing false statements tend injure person reputation essence slander per se publication spoken words false statements imputing person criminal offense loathsome disease matter affecting adversely person fitness trade business profession serious sexual misconduct harper james law torts restatement second torts prosser law torts ed case example respondents denied allegations may well distressed denials believed might equally distressed disbelieved hearing instance cause action petitioners use term distress include mental suffering emotional anguish although essentially subjective genuine injury respect may evidenced one conduct observed others juries must guided appropriate instructions award damages must supported competent evidence concerning injury see gertz robert welch see cases cited hostrop board junior college dist cert denied jeanty mckey poague seaton sky realty cited hostrop supra held damages may awarded humiliation distress caused discriminatory refusals lease housing plaintiffs comment seaton umiliation inferred circumstances well established testimony suggests considered question actual injury one fact see generally recovery damages emotional distress resulting racial ethnic religious abuse discrimination basista weir sexton gibbs supp nd tex aff cert denied rhoads horvat supp cited hostrop supra courts indicated damages may awarded humiliation distress caused unlawful arrests searches seizures basista weir held nominal damages awarded illegal arrest even compensatory damages waived nominal damages appropriate case support award punitive damages unclear whether plaintiff waived claim compensatory damages issue left open upon remand sexton gibbs found plaintiff suffered humiliation embarrassment discomfort substantial compensatory damages awarded rhoads horvat allowed jury award compensatory damages illegal arrest stand stating doubt plaintiff outraged arrest wayne venable cited hostrop supra ashby white bro eng ld raym eng appear support award substantial damages simply upon showing plaintiff wrongfully deprived right vote citing ashby white held actions damages may maintained wrongful deprivations right vote considered prerequisites recovery nixon herndon see also smith allwright coleman miller opinion frankfurter nixon condon myers anderson giles harris swafford templeton wiley sinkler rule damages wrongful deprivations voting rights embodied ashby white course quite relevant analogous question see dobbs law remedies pp mccormick law damages restatement torts number lower federal courts approved award nominal damages deprivations constitutional rights shown caused actual injury thompson burke ex rel tyrrell speaker magnett pelletier basista weir bell gayle supp nd tex ex rel myers sielaff supp ed berry macon county bd supp md respondents contend appeals holding affirmed ground district held high standard proof amount damages appropriate compensate intangible injuries proved suffered brief respondents true plaintiffs ordinarily required prove exactitude amount damages awarded compensate intangible injury see gertz robert welch appeals said case bar proof individualized injury respondents mental distress case posture occasion consider quantum proof required support particular damages award actual injury proved