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Washington : Government Printing Office
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| Chap. 646 | Title 28. U.S. Code. Codification and enactment into law. |
| Chap. 646 | 927 |
| Chap. 646 | 930 |
| Chap. 646 | 934 |
| Chap. 646 | 940 |
| Chap. 646 | 942 |
| Chap. 646 | 964 |
| Chap. 646 | 975 |
| Chap. 646 | 976 |
| Chap. 646 | Ante, p. 941. |
| Chap. 646 | 977 |
| Chap. 646 | Ante, p. 941. |
| Chap. 646 | 978 |
| Chap. 646 | Ante, p. 941. |
| Chap. 646 | 979 |
| Chap. 646 | 992 Repeals. |
| Chap. 646 | 1008 |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That title 28 of the United States Code, entitled "Judicial Code and Judiciary" is hereby revised, codified, and enacted into law, and may be cited as "Title 28, United States Code, section—", as follows:
The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action involving the right of any person, in whole or in part of Indian blood or descent, to any allotment of land under any Act of Congress or treaty.
The judgment in favor of any claimant to an allotment of land shall have the same effect, when properly certified to the Secretary of the Interior, as if such allotment had been allowed and approved by him; but this provision shall not apply to any lands held on or before December 21, 1911, by either of the Five Civilized Tribes, the Osage Nation of Indians, nor to any of the lands within the Quapaw Indian Agency.
| Sec. | |
| 1491. | Claims against United States generally. |
| 1492. | Congressional reference cases. |
| 1493. | Departmental reference cases. |
| 1494. | Accounts of officers, agents or contractors. |
| 1495. | Damages for unjust conviction and imprisonment; claim against United States. |
| 1496. | Disbursing officers' claims. |
| 1497. | Oyster growers' damages from dredging operations. |
| 1498. | Patent cases. |
| 1499. | Penalties imposed against contractors under eight hour law. |
| 1500. | Pendency of claims in other courts. |
| 1501. | Pensions. |
| 1502. | Treaty cases. |
| 1503. | Set-offs. |
| 1504. | Tort claims. |
The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim against the United States:
(1) Founded upon the Constitution; or
(2) Founded upon any Act of Congress; or
(3) Founded upon any regulation of an executive department; or
(4) Founded upon any express or implied contract with the United States; or
(5) For liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort.
Except as otherwise provided by Act of Congress, the Court of Claims shall not have jurisdiction of any claim against the United States growing out of or dependent upon any treaty entered into with foreign nations or with Indian tribes.
| Sec. | |
| 2501. | Time for filing suit. |
| 2502. | Aliens' privilege to sue. |
| 2503. | Proceedings before commissioners generally. |
| 2504. | Plaintiff's testimony. |
| 2505. | Place of taking evidence. |
| 2506. | Interest of witness. |
| 2507. | Calls on departments for information. |
| 2508. | Counterclaim or set-off. |
| 2509. | Congressional reference cases. |
| 2510. | Departmental reference cases. |
| 2511. | Accounts of officers, agents or contractors. |
| 2512. | Disbursing officers; relief. |
| 2513. | Unjust conviction and imprisonment. |
| 2514. | Forfeiture of fraudulent claims. |
| 2515. | New trial, stay of judgment. |
| 2516. | Interest on claims and judgments. |
| 2517. | Payment of judgments. |
| 2518. | Certification of judgments for appropriation. |
| 2519. | Conclusiveness of judgment. |
| 2520. | Fees; cost of printing record. |
Every claim of which the Court of Claims has jurisdiction shall be barred unless the petition thereon is filed, or the claim is referred by
the Senate or House of Representatives, or by the head of an executive department within six years after such claim first accrues.
Every claim under section 1497 of this title shall be barred unless the petition thereon is filed within two years after the termination of the river and harbor improvements operations on which the claim is based.
A petition on the claim of a person under legal disability or beyond the seas at the time the claim accrues may be filed within three years after the disability ceases.
A suit for the fees of an officer of the United States shall not be filed until his account for such fees has been finally acted upon, unless the General Accounting Office fails to act within six months after receiving the account.
Citizens or subjects of any foreign government which accords to citizens of the United States the right to prosecute claims against their government in its courts may sue the United States in the Court of Claims if the subject matter of the suit is otherwise within such court's jurisdiction.
Parties to any suit in the Court of Claims may appear before a commissioner in person or by attorney, produce evidence and examine witnesses. Commissioners, including reporter-commissioners taking testimony, may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses. Subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before commissioners may be issued by the court and compliance therewith shall be compelled under appropriate rules and orders of the court. Subpoenas for witnesses or for the production of testimony may issue out of the court by the clerk and shall be served by the United States marshal to whom they are directed.
The rules of the court shall provide for a finding and report of facts by a commissioner, and when directed by the court his recommendations for conclusions of law, to be filed in court with the testimony upon which the same is based, and for opportunity to file exceptions thereto, and a hearing thereon within such reasonable time as the court's rules or order may prescribe. This section shall not prevent the court from passing upon all questions and findings regardless of whether exceptions were taken before a commissioner.
The Court of Claims may, at the instance of the Attorney General, order any plaintiff to appear, upon reasonable notice, before any commissioner of the court and be examined on oath as to all matters pertaining to his claim. Such examination shall be reduced to writing by the commissioner, and shall be returned to and filed in the court, and may, at the discretion of the attorneys for the United States, be read and used as evidence on the trial. If any plaintiff, after such order is made and due and reasonable notice thereof is given to him, fails to appear, or refuses to testify or answer fully as to all material matters within his knowledge, the court may order that the case shall not be tried until he fully complies with such order.
Any judge of the Court of Claims may sit at any place within the United States to take evidence and report findings.
If convenient, testimony shall be taken in the county where the witness resides.
A witness in a suit in the Court of Claims shall not be exempt or disqualified because he is a party to or interested in such suit.
The Court of Claims may call upon any department or agency of the United States for any information or papers it deems necessary, and may use all recorded and printed reports made by the committees of the Senate or House of Representatives.
The head of any department or agency may refuse to comply when, in his opinion, compliance will be injurious to the public interest.
Upon the trial of any suit in the Court of Claims in which any set-off, counterclaim, claim for damages, or other demand is set up on the part of the United States against any plaintiff making claim against the United States in said court, the court shall hear and determine such claim or demand both for and against the United States and plaintiff.
If upon the whole case it finds that the plaintiff is indebted to the United States it shall render judgment to that effect, and such judgment shall be final and reviewable.
The transcript of such judgment, filed in the clerk's office of any district court, shall be entered upon the records, and be a judgment of such district court and enforceable as such.
Whenever any bill, except for a pension, is referred to the Court of Claims by either House of Congress, such court shall proceed with the same in accordance with its rules and report to such House, the facts in the case, including facts relating to delay or laches, facts bearing upon the question whether the bar of any statute of limitation should be removed, or facts claimed to excuse the claimant for not having resorted to any established legal remedy.
The court shall also report conclusions sufficient to inform Congress whether the demand is a legal or equitable claim or a gratuity, and the amount, if any, legally or equitably due from the United States to the claimant.
A claim or matter referred to the Court of Claims by the head of an executive department shall be proceeded with as are other cases pending in such court, under its rules.
The court shall report its findings of fact and conclusions of law to the head of the department who referred the claim or matter.
The Secretary of the Treasury may, upon the certificate of the Comptroller General of the United States, direct any claim or matter, of which, by reason of the subject matter or character, the Court of Claims might take jurisdiction on the voluntary action of the claimant, to be transmitted, with all the vouchers, papers, documents, and proofs pertaining thereto, to such court for trial and adjudication.
Notice of suit under section 1494 of this title shall be given to the Attorney General and to the head of the department requested to settle the account in question.
The judgment of the Court of Claims in such suit, or of the Supreme Court upon review, shall be conclusive upon the parties, and payment of the amount found due shall discharge the obligation.
A right of action shall accrue to the United States upon the judgment, but such right and any right of action on the original indebtedness shall be barred unless an action thereon is brought within three years after judgment.
Whenever the Court of Claims finds that any loss by a disbursing officer of the United States was without his fault or negligence, it shall render a judgment setting forth the amount thereof, and the General Accounting Office shall allow the officer such amount as a credit in the settlement of his accounts.
(a) Any person suing under section 1495 of this title must allege and prove that:
(1) His conviction has been reversed or set aside on the ground that he is not guilty of the offense of which he was convicted, or on new trial or rehearing he was found not guilty of such offense, as appears from the record or certificate of the court setting aside or reversing such conviction, or that he has been pardoned upon the stated ground of innocence and unjust conviction and
(2) He did not commit any of the acts charged or his acts, deeds, or omissions in connection with such charge constituted no offense against the United States, or any State, Territory or the District of Columbia, and he did not by misconduct or neglect cause or bring about his own prosecution.
(b) Proof of the requisite facts shall be by a certificate of the court or pardon wherein such facts are alleged to appear, and other evidence thereof shall not be received.
(c) No pardon or certified copy of a pardon shall be filed with the Court of Claims unless it contains recitals that the pardon was granted after applicant had exhausted all recourse to the courts and that the time for any court to exercise its jurisdiction had expired.
(d) The Court may permit the plaintiff to prosecute such action in forma pauperis.
(e) The amount of damages awarded shall not exceed the sum of $5,000.
A claim against the United States shall be forfeited to the United States by any person who corruptly practices or attempts to practice any fraud against the United States in the proof, statement, establishment, or allowance thereof.
In such cases the Court of Claims shall specifically find such fraud or attempt and render judgment of forfeiture.
(a) The Court of Claims may grant a plaintiff a new trial on any ground established by rules of common law or equity applicable as between private parties.
(b) Such court, at any time while any suit is pending before it, or after proceedings for review have been instituted, or within two years after the final disposition of the suit, may grant the United States a new trial and stay the payment of any judgment upon satisfactory evidence, cumulative or otherwise, that any fraud, wrong, or injustice has been done the United States.
(a) Interest on a claim against the United States shall be allowed in
a judgment of the Court of Claims only under a contract or Act of Congress expressly providing for payment thereof.
(b) Interest on judgments against the United States affirmed by the Supreme Court after review on petition of the United States shall be paid at the rate of four per cent per annum from the date of the filing of the transcript of the judgment in the Treasury Department to the date of the mandate of affirmance. Such interest shall not be allowed after the term of the Supreme Court at which the judgment was affirmed.
(a) Every final judgment rendered by the Court of Claims against the United States shall be paid out of any general appropriation therefor, on presentation to the General Accounting Office of a certification of the judgment by the clerk and chief judge of the court.
(b) Payment of any such judgment and of interest thereon shall be a full discharge to the United States of all claims and demands arising out of the matters involved in the case or controversy.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall certify to Congress for appropriation only such judgments of the Court of Claims as are not to be reviewed or are entered upon mandate of the Supreme Court.
A final judgment of the Court of Claims against any plaintiff shall forever bar any further claim, suit, or demand against the United States arising out of the matters involved in the case or controversy.
(a) The Court of Claims shall by rules impose a fee not exceeding $10, for the filing of any petition and the hearing of any case before the court, a judge, or a commissioner.
(b) The clerk shall collect a fee of 10 cents a folio for preparing and certifying a transcript of the record for the purpose of a writ of certiorari sought by the plaintiff, and for furnishing certified copies of judgments or other documents. Not less than $5 shall be charged for each certified copy of findings of fact and opinion of the court to be filed in the Supreme Court.
(c) The clerk shall also collect for each certified copy of the court's findings of fact and opinion a fee of 25 cents for five pages or less, 35 cents for those over five and not more than ten pages, 45 cents for those over ten and not more than twenty pages, and 50 cents for those of more than twenty pages.
(d) The cost of printing the record in every pending case in the court shall be taxed against the losing party, collected by the clerk of the court, except when the judgment is against the United States, and paid into the Treasury.
SEC. 39. The sections or parts thereof of the Revised Statutes of the District of Columbia, Revised Statutes of the United States or Statutes at Large enumerated in the following schedule are hereby repealed. Any rights or liabilities now existing under such sections or parts thereof shall not be affected by this repeal.
| Date |
Statutes at Large Chapter |
Section |
Volume |
Page |
U.S. Code Title |
Section |
| 1945— Dec. 28 Do---------- |
596 |
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596 |
661, 662 |
28 |
193 |
Approved, June 25, 1948.
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