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the District of the Canal Zone, the District Court of Guam, and the District Court of the Virgin Islands, except where a direct review may be had in the Supreme Court.

§ 1346. United States as defendant

(b) Subject to the provisions of chapter 171 of this title, the district courts, together with the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone, and the District Court of the Virgin Islands, shall have exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions on claims against the United States, for money damages, accruing on and after January 1, 1945, for injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment, under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law, of the place where the act or omission occurred [.] or where the claim sounding in tort for money damages arises under the Constitution of the United States when such employee of the Government is acting within the scope of his office or employment, or under the color thereof, such liability to be determined in accordance with applicable Federal law.

(c) The jurisdiction conferred by this section includes jurisdiction of any setoff, counterclaim, or other claim or demand whatever on the part of the United States against any plaintiff commencing an action under this section.

§ 1402. United States as defendant

(a) Any civil action against the United States under subsection (a) of section 1346 of this title may be prosecuted only :

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the judicial district where the plaintiff resides;

(2) In the case of a civil action by a corporation under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 1346, in the judicial district in which is located the principal place of business or principal office or agency of the corporation; or if it has no principal place of business or principal office or agency in any judicial district (A) in the judicial district in which is located the office to which was made the return of the tax in respect of which the claim is made, or (B) if no return was made, in the judicial district in which lies the District of Columbia. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph a district court, for the convenience of the parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, may transfer any such action to any other district or division.

(b) Any civil action on a tort claim against the United States under subsection (b) of section 1346 of this title may be prosecuted only in the judicial district where the plaintiff resides or wherein the act or omission complained of occurred. (c) Any civil action against the United States under subsection (e) of section 1346 of this title may be prosecuted only in the judicial district where the property is situated at the time of levy, or if no levy is made, in the judicial district in which the event occurred which gave rise to the cause of action.

(d) Any civil action under section 2409a to quiet title to an estate or interest in real property in which an interest is claimed by the United States shall be brought in the district court of the district where the property is located or, if located in different districts, in any of such districts.

§ 1504. Tort claims

The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to review by appeal final judgments in the district courts in civil actions based on tort claims brought under section 1346 (b) of this title if the notice of appeal filed in the district court has affixed thereto the written consent on behalf of all the appellees that the appeal be taken to the Court of Claims.

§ 2110. Time for appeal to Court of Claims in tort claims cases

Appeals to the Court of Claims in tort claims cases, as provided in section 1504 of this title, shall be taken within ninety days after the entry of the final judgment of the district court.

§ 2401. Time for commencing action against United States

(b) A tort claim against the United States shall be forever barred unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues or unless action is begun within six months after the date of mailing, by certified or registered mail, of notice of final denial of the claim by the agency to which it was presented.

§ 2402. Jury trial in actions against United States

Any action against the United States under section 1346 shall be tried by the court without a jury, except that any action against the United States under section 1346 (a)(1) shall, at the request of either party to such action, be tried by the court with a jury.

§ 2411. Interest

(a) In any judgment of any court rendered (whether against the United States, a collector or deputy collector of internal revenue, a former collector or deputy collector, or the personal representative in case of death) for any overpayment in respect of any internal revenue tax, interest shall be allowed at an annual rate established under section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 upon the amount of the overpayment, from the date of the payment or collection thereof to a date preceding the date of the refund check by not more than thirty days, such date to be determined by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The Commissioner is authorized to tender by check payment of any such judgment, with interest as herein provided, at any time after such judgment becomes final, whether or not a claim for such payment has been duly filed, and such tender shall stop the running of interest, whether or not such refund check is accepted by the judgment creditor.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a) of this section, on all final judgments rendered against the United States in actions instituted under section 1346 of this title, interest shall be computed at the rate of 4 per centum per annum from the date of the judgment up to, but not exceeding, thirty days after the date of approval of any appropriation Act providing for payment of the judgment.

§ 2412. Costs

Except as otherwise specially provided by statute, a judgment for costs, as enumerated in section 1920 of this title but not including the fees and expenses of attorneys may be awarded to the prevailing party in any civil action brought by or against the United States or any agency or official of the United States acting in his official capacity, in any court having jurisdiction of such action. A judgment for costs when taxed against the Government shall, in an amount established by statute or court rule or order, be limited to reimbursing in whole or in part the prevailing party for the costs incurred by him in the litigation. Payment of a judgment for costs shall be as provided in section 2414 and section 2517 of this title for the payment of judgments against the United States. § 2414. Payment of judgments and compromise settlements

Payment of final judgments rendered by a district court against the United States shall be made on settlements by the General Accounting Office. Payment of final judgments rendered by a State or foreign court or tribunal against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States, shall be made on settlements by the General Accounting Office after certification by the Attorney General that it is in the interest of the United States to pay the same.

§ 2671. Definitions

As used in this chapter and sections 1346 (b) and 2401 (b) of this title, the term

"Federal agency" includes the executive departments, the military departments, independent establishments of the United States, and corporations primarily acting as instrumentalities or agencies of the United States, but does not include any contractor with the United States.

"Employee of the government" includes officers or employees of any federal agency, members of the military or naval forces of the United States, and persons acting on behalf of a federal agency in an official capacity, temporarily or permanently in the service of the United States, whether with or without compensation.

"Acting within the scope of his office or employment", in the case of a member of the military or naval forces of the United States, means acting in line of duty.

§ 2672. Administrative adjustment of claims

The head of each Federal agency or his designee, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Attorney General, may consider, ascertain, adjust, deter

mine, compromise, and settle any claim for money damages against the United States for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the agency while acting within the scope of his office or employment, under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred[.] or where the claim sounding in tort for money damages arises under the Constitution of the United States when such employee of the Government is acting within the scope of his office or employment, or under the color thereof, such liability to be determined in accordance with applicable Federal law. Provided, That any award, compromise, or settlement in excess of $25,000 shall be effected only with the prior written approval of the Attorney General or his designee.

Subject to the provisions of this title relating to civil actions on tort claims against the United States, any such award, compromise, settlement, or determination shall be final and conclusive on all officers of the Government, except when procured by means of fraud.

Any award, compromise, or settlement in an amount of $2,500 or less made pursuant to this section shall be paid by the head of the Federal agency concerned out of appropriations available to that agency. Payment of any award, compromise, or settlement in an amount in excess of $2,500 made pursuant to this section or made by the Attorney General in any amount pursuant to section 2677 of this title shall be paid in a manner similar to judgments and compromises in like causes and appropriations or funds available for the payment of such judgments and compromises are here by made available for the payment of awards, compromises, or settlements under this chapter.

The acceptance by the claimant of any such award, compromise, or settlement shall be final and conclusive on the claimant, and shall constitute a complete release of any claim against the United States and against the employee of the government whose act or omission gave rise to the claim, by reason of the same subject matter.

§ 2673. Repealed.

§ 2674. Liability of United States

The United States shall be liable, respecting the provisions of this title relating to tort claims. based upon negligent or wrongful acts or omissions in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances, but shall not be liable for interest prior to judgment or for punitive damages.

If, however, in any case wherein death was caused, the law of the place where the act or omission complained of occurred provides, or has been construed to provide, for damages only punitive in nature, the United States shall be liable for actual or compensatory damages, measured by the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death to the persons respectively, for whose benefit the action was brought, in lieu thereof.

The United States shall be liable, respecting the provisions of this title relating to tort claims arising under the Constitution of the United States, to the same extent as entitlement to compensation is recognized under the tort law of the place where the violation occurred, but shall not be liable for interest prior to judgment or for punitive damages: Provided, however, That for a claim arising under the Constitution of the United States, such compensation shall not be less than liquidated damages of $1,000, plus a reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred, except that for a claim arising from the interception or disclosure of a wire or oral communication as defined in chapter 119 of title 18, such compensation shall not be less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000 whichever is higher, plus a reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred:

With the further proviso, however, that the United States may not assert as a defense to a suit against it alleging a constitutional tort, the absolute or qualified immunity of the employee (except members of Congress, judges or prosecutors or those performing such functions) or his good faith belief in the lawfulness of his conduct.

§ 2675. Disposition by federal agency as prerequisite; evidence

(a) An action shall not be instituted upon a claim against the United States for money damages for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death

caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment; or upon a claim for money damages arising from the violation of the Constitution of the United States by any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment or under the color thereof, unless the claimant shall have first presented the claim to the appropriate Federal agency and his claim shall have been finally denied by the agency in writing and sent by certified or registered mail. The failure of an agency to make final disposition of a claim within six months after it is filed shall, at the option of the claimant any time thereafter, be deemed a final denial of the claim for purposes of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to such claims as may be asserted under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by third party complaint, crossclaim, or counterclaim[]; Provided, however, that upon a claim for money damage arising from the violation of the Constitution of the United States, class actions in conformity with the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure may be instituted provided that the claim presented to the appropriate Federal agency expressly asserts the representative nature of the claim and specifically describes the members of the class, the common interests of the claimant and such members, and the basis upon which the claimant believes he can fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class as their representative."

(b) Action under this section shall not be instituted for any sum in excess of the amount of the claim presented to the federal agency, except where the increased amount is based upon newly discovered evidence not reasonably discoverable at the time of presenting the claim to the federal agency, or upon allegation and proof of intervening facts, relating to the amount of the claim.

(c) Disposition of any claim by the Attorney General or other head of a federal agency shall not be competent evidence of liability or amount of damages. § 2676. Judgment as bar

The judgment in an action under section 1346(b) of this title shall constitute a complete bar to any action by the claimant, by reason of the same subject matter, against the employee of the government whose act or omission gave rise to the claim.

§ 2677. Compromise

The Attorney General or his designee may arbitrate, compromise, or settle any claim cognizable under section 1346 (b) of this title, after the commencement of an action thereon.

82678. Attorney fees; penalty

Except as otherwise provided by the third paragraph of Section 2674 of this title, no attorney shall charge, demand, receive, or collect for services rendered, fees in excess of 25 per centum of any judgment rendered pursuant to section 1346(b) of this title or any settlement made pursuant to section 2677 of this title, or in excess of 20 per centum of any award, compromise, or settlement made pursuant to section 2672 of this title.

Any attorney who charges, demands, receives, or collects for services rendered in connection with such claim any amount in excess of that allowed under this section, if recovery be had, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

2679. Exclusiveness of remedy

(a) The authority of any federal agency to sue and be sued in its own name shall not be construed to authorize suits against such federal agency on claims which are cognizable under section 1346 (b) of this title, and the remedies provided by this title in such cases shall be exclusive.

(b) The remedy against the United States provided by sections 1346 (b) and 2672 of this title for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death, resulting from the operation by any employee of the Government of any motor vehicle while acting within the scope of his office or employment, shall hereafter be exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding by reason of the same subject matter against the employee or his estate whose act or omission gave rise to the claim.]

“(b) The remedy against the United States provided by sections 1346 (b) and 2672 of this title for claims for injury or loss of property or personal injury or

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death resulting from the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment or for claims arising from the violation of the Constitution of the United States by any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment or while acting under the color thereof is exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the same subject matter against the employee whose violation or act or omission gave rise to the claim, or against the estate of such employee.".

(c) The Attorney General shall defend any civil action or proceeding brought in any court against any employee of the Government or his estate for any such damage or injury. The employee against whom such civil action or proceeding is brought shall deliver within such time after date of service or knowledge of service as determined by the Attorney General, all process served upon him or an attested true copy thereof to his immediate superior or to whomever was designated by the head of his department to receive such papers and such person shall promptly furnish copies of the pleadings and process therein to the United States attorney for the district embracing the place wherein the proceeding is brought, to the Attorney General, and to the head of his employing Federal agency.

(d) Upon a certification by the Attorney General that the defendant employee was acting within the scope of his employment at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose, any such civil action or proceeding commenced in a State court shall be removed without bond at any time before trial by the Attorney General to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending and the proceedings deemed a tort action brought against the United States under the provisions of this title and all references thereto. Should a United States district court determine on a hearing on a motion to remand held before a trial on the merits that the case so removed is one in which a remedy by suit within the meaning of subsection (b) of this section is not available against the United States, the case shall be remanded to the State court.]

(d) (1) Upon certification by the Attorney General that the defendant employee was acting within the scope of his office or employment, or in claims arising under the Constitution of the United States that the employee was acting within the scope of his office or employment or under the color thereof, at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose any such civil action or proceeding commenced in a United States district court shall be deemed an action against the United States under the provisions of this title and all references thereto, and the United States shall be substituted as the party defendant. After such substitution the United States shall have available all defenses to which it would have been entitled if the action had originally been commenced against the United States under this chapter and section 1346 (b).

(d) (2) Upon certification by the Attorney General that the defendant employee was acting within the scope of his office or employment, or in claims arising under the Constitution of the United States that the employee was acting within the scope of his office or employment or under the color thereof, at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose any such civil action or proceeding commenced in a State court shall be removed, without bond. at any time before trial, by the Attorney General to the district court of the United States of the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending and be deemed an action brought against the United States under the provisions of this title and all references thereto, and the United States shall be substituted as the party defendant. After such substitution the United States shall have available all defenses to which it would have been entitled if the action had originally been commenced against the United States under this chapter and section 1346 (b). The certification of the Attorney General shall conclusively establish scope of office or employment and in claims arising under the Constitution of the United States, acting under color of office or employment for purposes of such initial removal. Should a district court of the United States determine on a hearing on a motion to remand held before trial on the merits that the employee defendant was not acting within the scope of his office or employment, and in claims arising under the Constitution of the United States, acting within the scope of his office or employment or under color thereof, the case shall be remanded to the State court in which it was initially filed.

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