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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17456-17458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8482]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

28 CFR Part 0

[Civil Division Directive No. 14-95]

Redelegation by Civil Division of Authority to Compromise Civil 
Claims

AGENCY: Department of Justice, Civil Division.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This Directive implements a recent Attorney General order that 
increased settlement and compromise authority that the Assistant 
Attorneys General of the litigating divisions may redelegate to United 
States Attorneys in civil matters. This Directive, which supersedes 
Civil Division Directive 176-91, is being promulgated in order to 
increase Department efficiency.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 6, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert M. Hollis, Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, 
Civil Division, Department of Justice, room 11022, 550 11th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20530; (202) 307-1100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Directive implements on behalf of the 
Civil Division the increase in the dollar amount of settlement 
authority which the Assistant Attorneys General may redelegate to 
United States Attorneys in civil matters. This increase in United 
States Attorney authority will further the efficient operation of the 
Department of Justice.
    As a regulation related to internal Department of Justice 
management, this rule may become effective without provision for public 
comment pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sec. 553(b)(A). This Directive is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 
12866 and, accordingly, it has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sec. 605(b), the Assistant 
Attorney General for the Civil Division certifies that because the 
effect of this Directive is internal to the Department of Justice it 
will not have a significant adverse economic impact on a substantial 
number of small business entities. [[Page 17457]] 
    This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the states, 
on the relationship between the national government and the states, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 
12612, it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 0

    Authority delegations (government agencies), Government employees, 
Organization and functions (government agencies), Whistleblowing.

PART 0--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 0 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Sec. 301, 28 U.S.C. Secs. 509, 510, 515-519.

    2. In the Appendix to Subpart Y, Civil Division Directive No. 176-
91 is removed and Civil Division Directive 14-95 is added in its place 
to read as follows:

Appendix to Subpart Y--Redelegations of Authority To Compromise and 
Close Civil Claims

* * * * *

[Directive No. 14-95]

    By virtue of the authority vested in me by part 0 of title 28 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations, particularly Secs. 0.45, 0.160, 
0.164, and 0.168, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Authority To Compromise or Close Cases and to File Suits 
and Claims

    (a) Delegation to Deputy Assistant Attorneys General. The Deputy 
Assistant Attorneys General are authorized to act for, and to 
exercise the authority of, the Assistant Attorney General in charge 
of the Civil Division with respect to the institution of suits, the 
acceptance or rejection of compromise offers, and the closing of 
claims or cases, unless any such authority is required by law to be 
exercised by the Assistant Attorney General personally or has been 
specifically delegated to another Department official.
    (b) Delegation to United States Attorneys, Branch, Office and 
Staff Directors and Attorneys-in-Charge of Field Offices. Subject to 
the limitations imposed by 28 CFR 0.160(c), and 0.164(a) and section 
4(c) of this directive, and the authority of the Solicitor General 
set forth in 28 CFR 0.163,
    (1) Branch, Office, and Staff Directors, and Attorneys-in-Charge 
of Field Offices with respect to matters assigned or delegated to 
their respective components are hereby delegated the authority to:
    (a) Accept offers in compromise of claims on behalf of the 
United States;
    (i) In all cases in which the gross amount of the original claim 
did not exceed $500,000; and,
    (ii) In all cases in which the gross amount of the original 
claim was between $500,000 and $5,000,000, so long as the difference 
between the gross amount of the original claim and the proposed 
settlement does not exceed $500,000 or 15 percent of the original 
claim, whichever is greater;
    (b) Accept offers in compromise of, or settle administratively, 
claims against the United States in all cases where the principal 
amount of the proposed settlement does not exceed $500,000; and,
    (c) Reject any offers.
    (2) United States Attorneys with respect to matters assigned or 
delegated to their respective components are hereby delegated the 
authority to:
    (a) Accept offers in compromise of claims on behalf of the 
United States;
    (i) In all cases in which the gross amount of the original claim 
did not exceed $1,000,000 and,
    (ii) In all cases in which the gross amount of the original 
claim does not exceed $5,000,000, and in which the difference 
between the gross amount of the original claim and the proposed 
settlement does not exceed $1,000,000;
    (b) Accept offers in compromise of, or settle administratively, 
claims against the United States in all cases where the principal 
amount of the proposed settlement does not exceed $1,000,000 and,
    (c) Reject any offers.
    (3) With respect to claims asserted in bankruptcy proceedings, 
the term gross amount of the original claim in (1) (a) and (b), and 
(2) (a) and (b) above means liquidation value. Liquidation value is 
the forced sale value of the collateral, if any, securing the 
claim(s) plus the dividend likely to be paid for the unsecured 
portion of the claim(s) in an actual or hypothetical liquidation of 
the bankruptcy estate.
    (c) Subject to the limitations imposed by sections 1(e) and 4(c) 
of this directive, United States Attorneys, Directors, and 
Attorneys-in-Charge are authorized to file suits, counterclaims, and 
cross-claims, to close, or to take any other action necessary to 
protect the interests of the United States in all routine 
nonmonetary cases, in all routine loan collection and foreclosure 
cases, and in other monetary claims or cases where the gross amount 
of the original claim does not exceed $500,000, or in the case of 
United States Attorneys, $1,000,000. Such actions in nonmonetary 
cases which are other than routine will be submitted for the 
approval of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division.
    (d) United States Attorneys may redelegate in writing the above-
conferred compromise and suit authority to Assistant United States 
Attorneys who supervise other Assistant United States Attorneys who 
handle civil litigation.
    (e) Limitations on delegations. The authority to compromise 
cases, file suits, counter-claims, and cross-claims, to close cases, 
or take any other action necessary to protect the interests of the 
United States, delegated by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, 
may not be exercised, and the matter shall be submitted for 
resolution to the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, when:
    (1) For any reason, the proposed action, as a practical matter, 
will control or adversely influence the disposition of other claims 
totaling more than the respective amounts designated in the above 
paragraphs.
    (2) Because a novel question of law or a question of policy is 
presented, or for any other reason, the proposed action should, in 
the opinion of the officer or employee concerned, receive the 
personal attention of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil 
Division.
    (3) The agency or agencies involved are opposed to the proposed 
action. The views of an agency must be solicited with respect to any 
significant proposed action if it is a party, if it has asked to be 
consulted with respect to any such proposed action, or if such 
proposed action in a case would adversely affect any of its 
policies.
    (4) The U.S. Attorney involved is opposed to the proposed action 
and requests that the matter be submitted to the Assistant Attorney 
General for decision.
    (5) The case is on appeal, except as determined by the Director 
of the Appellate Staff.

Section 2. Action Memoranda

    (a) Whenever an official of the Civil Division or a United 
States Attorney accepts a compromise, closes a claim or files a suit 
or claim pursuant to the authority delegated by this Directive, a 
memorandum fully explaining the basis for the action taken shall be 
executed and placed in the file. In the case of matters compromised, 
closed, or filed by United States Attorneys, a copy of the 
memorandum must be sent to the appropriate Branch or Office of the 
Civil Division.
    (b) The compromising of cases or closing of claims or the filing 
of suits for claims, which a United States Attorney is not 
authorized to approve, shall be referred to the appropriate Branch 
or Office within the Civil Division, for decision by the Assistant 
Attorney General or the appropriate authorized person within the 
Civil Division. The referral memorandum should contain a detailed 
description of the matter, the United States Attorney's 
recommendation, the agency's recommendation where applicable, and a 
full statement of the reasons therefor.

Section 3. Return of Civil Judgment Cases to Agencies

    Claims arising out of judgments in favor of the United States 
which cannot be permanently closed as uncollectible may be returned 
to the referring Federal agency for servicing and surveillance 
whenever all conditions set forth in USAM 4-2.230 have been met.

Section 4. Authority for Direct Reference and Delegation of Civil 
Division Cases to United States Attorneys

    (a) Direct reference to United States Attorneys by agencies. The 
following civil actions under the jurisdiction of the Assistant 
Attorney General, Civil Division, may be referred by the agency 
concerned directly to the appropriate United States Attorney for 
[[Page 17458]] handling in trial courts, subject to the limitations 
imposed by paragraph (c) of this section. United States Attorneys 
are hereby delegated the authority to take all necessary steps to 
protect the interests of the United States, without prior approval 
of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, or his 
representations, subject to the limitations set forth in section 
1(e) of this directive. Agencies may, however, if special handling 
is desired, refer these cases to the Civil Division. Also, when 
constitutional questions or other significant issues arise in the 
course of such litigation, or when an appeal is taken by any party, 
the Civil Division should be consulted.
    (1) Money claims by the United States, except claims involving 
penalties and forfeitures, where the gross amount of the original 
claim does not exceed $1,000,000.
    (2) Single family dwelling house foreclosures arising out of 
loans made or insured by the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Veterans Administration and the Farmers Home 
Administration.
    (3) Suits to enjoin violations of, and to collect penalties 
under, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, 7 U.S.C. 1376, the 
Packers and Stockyards Act, 7 U.S.C. 203, 207(g), 213, 215, 216, 
222, and 228a, the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930, 7 
U.S.C. 499c(a) and 499h(d), the Egg Products Inspection Act, 21 
U.S.C. 1031 et seq., the Potato Research and Promotion Act, 7 U.S.C. 
2611 et seq., the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966, 7 
U.S.C. 2101 et seq., the Federal Meat Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., and the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 
amended, 7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    (4) Suits by social security beneficiaries under the Social 
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 402 et seq.
    (5) Social Security disability suits under 42 U.S.C. 423 et seq.
    (6) Black lung beneficiary suits under the Federal Coal Mine 
Health and Safety Act of 1969, 30 U.S.C. 921 et seq.
    (7) Suits by Medicare beneficiaries under 42 U.S.C. 1395ff.
    (8) Garnishment actions authorized by 42 U.S.C. 659 for child 
support or alimony payments and actions for general debt, 5 U.S.C. 
5520a.
    (9) Judicial review of actions of the Secretary of Agriculture 
under the food stamp program, pursuant to the provisions of 7 U.S.C. 
2022 involving retail food stores.
    (10) Cases referred by the Department of Labor for the 
collection of penalties or for injunctive action under the Fair 
Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act of 1970.
    (11) Cases referred by the Department of Labor solely for the 
collection of civil penalties under the Farm Labor Contractor 
Registration Act of 1963, 7 U.S.C. 2048(b).
    (12) Cases referred by the Interstate Commerce Commission to 
enforce orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission or to enjoin or 
suspend such orders pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1336.
    (13) Cases referred by the United States Postal Service for 
injunctive relief under the nonmailable matter laws, 39 U.S.C. 3001 
et seq.
    (b) Delegation to United States Attorneys. Upon the 
recommendation of the appropriate Director, the Assistant Attorney 
General, Civil Division may delegate to United States Attorneys suit 
authority involving any claims or suits where the gross amount of 
the original claim does not exceed $5,000,000 where the 
circumstances warrant such delegations. United States Attorneys may 
compromise any case redelegated under this subsection in which the 
gross amount of the original claim does not exceed $5,000,000, so 
long as the difference between the gross amount of the original 
claim and the proposed settlement does not exceed $1,000,000. United 
States Attorneys may close cases redelegated to them under this 
subsection only upon the authorization of the appropriate authorized 
person within the Department of Justice. All delegations pursuant to 
this subsection shall be in writing and no United States Attorney 
shall have authority to compromise or close any such delegated case 
or claim except as is specified in the required written delegation 
or in section 1(c) of this directive. The limitations of section 
1(e) of this directive also remain applicable in any case or claim 
delegated hereunder.
    (c) Cases not covered. Regardless of the amount in controversy, 
the following matters normally will not be delegated to United 
States Attorneys for handling but will be personally or jointly 
handled or monitored by the appropriate Branch or Office within the 
Civil Division:
    (1) Civil actions in the Court of Federal Claims.
    (2) Cases within the jurisdiction of the Commercial Litigation 
Branch involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.
    (3) Cases before the United States Court of International Trade.
    (4) Any case involving bribery, conflict of interest, breach of 
fiduciary duty, breach of employment contract, or exploitation of 
public office.
    (5) Any fraud or False Claims Act case where the amount of 
single damages, plus civil penalties, if any, exceeds $1,000,000.
    (6) Any case involving vessel-caused pollution in navigable 
waters.
    (7) Cases on appeal, except as determined by the Director of the 
Appellate Staff.
    (8) Any case involving litigation in a foreign court.
    (9) Criminal proceedings arising under statutes enforced by the 
Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (relating to odometer tampering), 
except as determined by the Director of the Office of Consumer 
Litigation.
    (10) Nonmonetary civil cases, including injunction suits, 
declaratory judgment actions, and applications for inspection 
warrants, and cases seeking civil penalties including but not 
limited to those arising under statutes enforced by the Food and 
Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the 
Federal Trade Commission, and the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (relating to odometer tampering), except as 
determined by the Director of the Office of Consumer Litigation.
    (11) Administrative claims arising under the Federal Tort Claims 
Act.

Section 5. Adverse Decisions

    All final judicial decisions adverse to the Government involving 
any direct reference or delegated case must be reported promptly to 
the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, attention Director, 
Appellate Staff. Consult title 2 of the United States Attorney's 
Manual for procedures and time limitations. An appeal cannot be 
taken without approval of the Solicitor General. Until the Solicitor 
General has made a decision whether an appeal will be taken, the 
Government attorney handling the case must take all necessary 
procedural actions to preserve the Government's right to take an 
appeal, including filing a protective notice of appeal when the time 
to file a notice of appeal is about to expire and the Solicitor 
General has not yet made a decision. Nothing in the foregoing 
directive affects this obligation.

Section 6. Supersession

    This directive supersedes Civil Division Directive No. 176-91 
regarding redelegation of the Assistant Attorney General's authority 
in Civil Division cases to Branch Directors, heads of offices and 
United States Attorneys.

Section 7. Applicability

    This directive applies to all cases pending as of the date of 
this directive and is effective immediately.

    Approved: March 27, 1995.
Frank W. Hunger,
Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division.
    Dated March 27, 1995.
John R. Schmidt,
Associate Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 95-8482 Filed 4-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-01-M
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