Cite as: 530 U. S. 238 (2000)
Opinion of the Court
Robert A. Long, Jr., argued the cause for petitioners. With him on the briefs were John M. Vine, Michael R. Berg-mann, and Charles C. Jackson.
Beth S. Brinkmann argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging reversal. With her on the brief were Solicitor General Waxman, Deputy Solicitor General Kneedler, Henry L. Solano, Allen H. Feldman, Nathaniel I. Spiller, and Elizabeth Hopkins.
Peter C. Hein argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were Andrew C. Houston, William F. Conlon, and Richard B. Kapnick.*
Justice Thomas delivered the opinion of the Court.
Section 406(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 88 Stat. 879, bars a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan from causing the plan to engage in certain transactions with a "party in interest." 29 U. S. C. § 1106(a). Section 502(a)(3) authorizes a "participant, beneficiary, or fiduciary" of a plan to bring a civil action to obtain "appropriate equitable relief" to redress violations of ERISA Title I. 29 U. S. C. § 1132(a)(3). The question is whether that authorization extends to a suit against a nonfiduciary "party in interest" to a transaction barred by § 406(a). We hold that it does.
I
Responding to deficiencies in prior law regulating transactions by plan fiduciaries, Congress enacted ERISA § 406(a)(1), which supplements the fiduciary's general duty of
*Mary Ellen Signorille, Melvin Radowitz, Paula Brantner, and Jeffrey Lewis filed a brief for the AARP et al. as amici curiae urging reversal.
Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for the American Council of Life Insurers et al. by William J. Kilberg, Paul Blankenstein, Miguel A. Estrada, and Victoria E. Fimea; and for the Bond Market Association et al. by Michael R. Lazerwitz, Paul Saltzman, and Stuart J. Kaswell.
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