Egbert v. Boule

In 2014, a Customs and Border Protection officer assaulted Robert Boule at his bed and breakfast. When Boule filed a formal complaint with the officer’s supervisor, the officer threatened him with an IRS investigation. These actions violated Boule’s First and Fourth Amendment rights, so he sued under a Bivens cause of action, which is the only mechanism for suing federal officials for violations of Constitutional rights. In this amicus brief, we explain why Bivens is crucial for holding federal officials accountable, and how conservative skepticism toward Bivens is inconsistent with this nation's history and with Congressional intent.