Source: https://www.justice.gov/usam/usam-4-5000-tort-litigation
Timestamp: 2016-08-27 19:57:32
Document Index: 296592296

Matched Legal Cases: ['§516', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 2210', 'art 79', '§ 4', '§ 2210', '§ 79', '§ 6', '§ 1089', '§ 817', '§ 2679', '§ 4116', '§ 233', '§ 15']

4-5.000 - Tort Litigation | USAM | Department of Justice
Title 4: Civil4-1.000 - Assignment Of Responsibilities
You are hereU.S. Attorneys » Resources » U.S. Attorneys' Manual » Title 4: Civil 4-5.000 - Tort Litigation
Torts Branch Components—Aviation and Admiralty
4-5.120 Torts Branch Components—Constitutional and Specialized Torts
4-5.130 Torts Branch Components—Environmental Torts (formerly Environmental and Occupational Disease Litigation)
4-5.140 Torts Branch Components—Federal Tort Claims Act Staff
4-5.200 Torts Branch Procedures—Conduct of FTCA Litigation
4-5.220 Torts Branch Procedures—Substantive Considerations in FTCA Litigation
4-5.230 Torts Branch Procedures—Settlement of Federal Tort Claims Act Suits
4-5.240 Torts Branch Procedures—FTCA Payment Procedure
4-5.300 Aviation and Admiralty Litigation—Contacts and Mailing Information
4-5.400 Constitutional and Specialized Torts—Key Staff and Contact Information
4-5.410 Constitutional and Specialized Torts—Introduction
4-5.412 Constitutional Torts—Representation Process
4-5.415 Constitutional Torts—Appealability of Immunity Claims
4-5.420 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program—Contacts and Mailing Information
4-5.421 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program—Introduction
4-5.430 Radiation Exposure Compensation Program—Contacts and Mailing Information
4-5.431 Radiation Exposure Compensation Program—Introduction
4-5.432 Radiation Exposure Compensation Program—Categories and Criteria
4-5.500 Environmental Torts Contacts and Mailing Information
4-5.510 Environmental Torts (Formerly Environmental and Occupational Disease Litigation (EODL))—Introduction
4-5.600 Federal Tort Claims Act Staff—Contacts and Mailing Information
4-5.610 FTCA Staff—Introduction
4-5.620 FTCA Staff—Research and Guidance Materials
4-5.630 FTCA Staff—Substitution of the United States for Federal Employees
4-5.640 FTCA Staff—Medical Care Recovery Act Cases
4-5.650 FTCA Staff—Medicare Recovery Cases
United States Attorneys responsible for the defense of FTCA or other tort litigation (e.g., Suits in Admiralty Act or Vessels Act) are currently delegated $1,000,000 in settlement authority, subject to the limitations set forth in Civil Directive No. 1-15, 28 C.F.R. Part O, Subpart y, App. If a United States Attorney seeks to settle for an amount in excess of the delegated authority, a detailed justification for the settlement must be forwarded to the Torts Branch. The responsible Director will then make a recommendation to the Assistant Attorney General (or if the proposed amount is in excess of $4,000,000 to the Associate Attorney General). Although the Torts Branch endeavors to expedite consideration of settlement proposals, opposing counsel and, if necessary, the court should be informed that immediate action cannot be guaranteed on any settlement proposal.It is customary to consult with the Torts Branch during settlement negotiations when any concern arises regarding the advisability of settlement or of the amount of the settlement. Although authority to settle a case can be obtained in exceptional cases prior to submission of an authorized offer from the other party(ies) to the case, this procedure is highly disfavored and should not be used unless special justification for its use is provided. However, the Torts Branch will provide counsel as to what amount it will recommend to the Assistant Attorney General in advance of initiation or completion of settlement negotiations.
Structured settlement agreements require careful attention to the terms and provisions of the agreement. The Torts Branch is available to be consulted regarding the particular terms of a structured settlement. Copies of the final settlement papers should be forwarded to the Torts Branch for retention. In the event that a reversionary trust provision is included in a structured settlement, the trust should include a requirement that the reversionary interest be paid to the United States Treasury in care of the Torts Branch pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
4-5.300 - Aviation and Admiralty Litigation—Contacts and Mailing Information
Gary W. Allen, Director, (202) 616-4000, SS07(ALLEN).
Admiralty: David V. Hutchinson, Assistant Director for Afmiralty, (202) 616-4126, SS07(HUTCHINS); Debra J. Kossow, Senior Admiralty Counsel, (202) 616-4070, SS07 (KOSSOW); Scott R. Blaze, Senior Admiralty Counsel, (202)616-4042, SS07(BLAZE).
Aviation: Kathlynn Fadely, Assistant Director for Aviation, (202) 616-4044, SS07(FADELY); Steven J. Riegel, Senior Aciation Counsel, (202) 616-4049, SS07(RIEGEL); James C. Wilson, Senior Aviation Counsel, (202) 616-4081, SS07 (OMALLEY).
New York Field Office: Janis Schulmeisters, Attorney in Charge, (212)264-0480, civ20(jschulme); Jack S. Rockafellow, Assistant Attorney in Charge, (212) 264-0482, civ20Ijrockafe). Mailing & Delivery: Aviation & Admiralty Litigation, Torts Branch, Civil Division, 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 320, Ney York, NY 10278-0140.
West Coast Field Office: Philip A. Berns, Attorney in Charge, (415) 436-6630, CIV21(PBERNS); Warren A. Schneider, Assistant Attorney in Charge, (415) 436-6645, CIV21(WSCHNEID). Mailing: Aviation & Admiralty Litigation, Torts Branch, Civil Division, West Coast Field Office 450 Golden Gate Ave., P.O. Box 36028, San Francisco, CA 94102-3463.
The Admiralty staff of the Torts Branch specializes, on the defensive side, in cases involving collisions at sea, groundings, seamen's injuries, search and rescue and other actions relating to the government's regulation of the nation's waterways. On the affirmative side, the cases include mortgage foreclosure, oil pollution and damage to government property. The admiralty staff also handles cases filed in district courts involving maritime contracts, both defensive and affirmative. The Admiralty staff generally retains primary responsibility for the defense of admiralty litigation, including preparation and trial. In any admiralty case handled primarily by an Assistant United States Attorney, there should be close cooperation with the Admiralty staff.
Two field offices handle the bulk of New York and West Coast maritime cases, because of the number of cases arising in these port areas and the active presence of major client agencies there. Maritime cases involving New York or nearby environs are generally handled in the New York Field Office located in New York City. Caes brought in West Coast states, as well as in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam are generally handled in the West Coast Field Office in San Francisco.
[cited in USAM 4-5.200]
The Aviation staff specializes in the defense of aviation cases arising primarily out of the activities of the FAA, NWS, NOAA and the military services. The Aviation staff generally retains primary responsibility for the defense of aviation litigation, including preparation and trial, particularly if questions of broad national import with particular precedential significance are involved, or if the litigation will raise questions concerning the use of air traffic control services or dissemination of weather and in-flight information to operators of commercial and private aircraft. In any aviation case handled primarily by an Assistant United States Attorney, there should be close cooperation with the Aviation Staff.
4-5.400 - Constitutional and Specialized Torts—Key Staff and Contact Information
Rupa Bhattacharyya, Director, (202) 305-0008.
Nicki L. Koutsis, Assistant Director, (202) 616-4150.
Sal D'Alessio, Senior Trial Counsel, (202) 616-4168 or (202) 353-5329.
Andrea McCarthy, Senior Trial Counsel, (202) 616-4175.
Richard Montague, Senior Trial Counsel, (202) 616-4158.
Mary Hampton Mason, Senior Trial Counsel, (202) 616-4123.
Paul Michael Brown, Senior Counsel for Instructional Activities, (202) 616-4167.
Vaccine Injury Compensation Act Internet Homepage Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Internet Homepage
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7146, Washington, DC 20044-7146Physical Address: 1425 New York Avenue, Suite 8122, Washington, DC 20005
E-mail for Individual Capacity Representation Requests: doj.representation@usdoj.gov
[updated May 2012] [cited in USAM 4-5.200]
The Constitutional Torts staff defends present and former federal employees against claims seeking to recover money damages from their personal assets in suits challenging conduct undertaken in the scope of federal employment. Under 28 U.S.C. §§516 to 519, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice are responsible for attending to the interests of the United States in litigation, which includes providing individual capacity representation in this context.
Caution. Department attorneys are forbidden from providing individual capacity representation to federal employees unless individual capacity representation has been approved under the procedures set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(1) and (a)(2). This ban includes removal of suits filed in state court.
Exception. While a request for individual capacity representation is pending, Department attorneys may seek an extension of time for the defendant employee to respond to a complaint, provided the motion makes it clear the Department attorney is appearing for that limited purpose.
The overwhelming majority of requests from federal employees for individual capacity representation by Department Attorneys are processed by the Constitutional Torts staff. Accordingly, agency counsel should forward the papers described in 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(1) and (a)(2) to the Constitutional Torts Staff, preferably by email, to the address listed above.
Generally. Personal representation of government employees is necessary only when they are sued in an individual capacity for damages. When a government employee is sued in an official capacity, the real defendant is the United States and should relief be awarded, it would be against the resources of the United States. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 US 159 (1985). As a matter of course Department attorneys represent federal officials sued in their official capacities for declaratory, injunctive or other forms of relief, and 28 C.F.R. § 50.15 is not implicated.
When an employee (present or former) is sued in his or her individual capacity, he or she is the personal target of the lawsuit. The plaintiff seeks recovery from the personal assets of the employee as opposed to the assets of the United States. The employee is named in the caption as a party defendant as required under Rule 10(a) and the prayer for relief demands money damages.
What about federal employees who testify at depositions? Are they entitled to individual capacity representation? Generally speaking, no. The employee is a witness, not a party and faces no claim seeking to recover money damages.
Situations in Which Individual Capacity Representation is Generally Not Available. Department of Justice representation is generally not available in a federal criminal proceeding or investigation. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(4). Nor is it available in a civil case if the employee is the subject of a federal criminal investigation concerning the act or acts for which he seeks representation. See 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(5) to (7). In such a civil case, however, private counsel may be provided to the employee at federal expense, provided no decision has been made to seek an indictment or file an information against the employee. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(7).
The Department of Justice is ultimately responsible for making the scope and interest determinations after reviewing the recommendation and analysis provided by the agency that employed the defendant. Because the executive is responsible for determining the interests of the United States in litigation, decisions of this nature are precluded from judicial review by the doctrine of separation of powers. Falkowski v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 764 F.2d 907 (D.C. Cir. 1985), reh'g denied, 783 F.2d 252 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 478 U.S. 1013 (1986).
Generally. Department of Justice representation is neither automatic nor compulsory; federal employees are free to retain counsel of their choice at their own expense. Every individual defendant who desires Department of Justice representation must request it in writing. The written request should be submitted to the individual's employing agency (usually the Office of the General Counsel, Chief Counsel, or Solicitor) along with a copy of the summons and complaint or other legal papers. The agency should then forward the request with all available factual information to the Department of Justice with a recommendation as to whether representation should be provided based upon the criteria of "scope" and "interest."
Time-Sensitive Requests. If a request for individual capacity representation must be considered promptly, it should be emailed to the address listed above and followed by a telephone call to the Director of the Constitutional Torts Staff to advise regarding the short suspense date. In some rare cases an oral request for "conditional" approval may be made. See 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(1). Such requests must be supplemented by a written representation request package as soon as possible. Finally, as noted, above, United States Attorneys have automatic authority to seek extensions of time in which to respond to a complaint.
Representation Agreements. Once individual capacity representation is approved, the litigating attorney should forward a Form 399 to the client for signature and return. The form sets forth the limitations of Department of Justice representation so that the client may be fully informed before he or she enters into the attorney-client relationship. See Department of Justice Order 2770.5.
Payment of Adverse Judgments. Regardless of whether representation is provided by the Department of Justice, a federal employee remains personally responsible for the satisfaction of a judgment entered solely against the employee; there is no right to compel indemnification from the United States or an agency thereof in the event of an adverse judgment. However, the Attorney General may authorize indemnification of Department of Justice employees for adverse judgments or, in exceptional circumstances, for adverse settlements. See 28 C.F.R. § 50.15 (c). Some other agencies have similar regulations allowing indemnification of their employees.
Private Counsel. Where conflicts in the factual or legal positions of a number of defendants make representation by a single attorney impossible, retention of private counsel at government expense may be authorized, provided the scope and interest criteria have been satisfied and subject to the availability of funds. See 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a) (10) and 50.16. Special written agreements between the Department of Justice and private counsel are required. See Administrative Directive 2120.
The current immunity doctrines not only are designed to protect officials from liability but from the burdens of litigation as well. Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800 (1982). Accordingly, an order denying an absolute immunity defense is immediately appealable, to the extent that it turns on an issue of law. Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 530 (1985).
4-5.420 - National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program—Contacts and Mailing Information
Rupa Bhattacharyya, Director, 202-305-0008
Mark W. Rogers, Deputy Director, 202-616-4134
Gabrielle M. Fielding, Assistant Director, 202-616-4359
Vincent J. Matanoski, Assistant Director, 202-616-4124
Catharine E. Reeves, Assistant Director, 202-307-1400
Web sites:http://www.justice.gov/civil/common/comp_progs.htmlhttp://www.hrsa.gov/Vaccinecompensation/index.html
Note. Currently, the vaccines covered under the Program are: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, trivalent influenza vaccines, human papillomavirus, and meningococcal vaccines.
The Vaccine Act established within the United States Court of Federal Claims an Office of Special Masters. When a petition for vaccine compensation is filed, the chief special master assigns the case to a special master who makes an initial determination as to whether entitlement to an award should be granted. In many cases, a trial is necessary to decide the issue of entitlement under the Program. Although the court is located in Washington, D.C., the entitlement hearing is usually held in the state where the vaccine-injured party resides.
Once a determination of vaccine-causation is made, the claimant is generally entitled to compensation for actual and future unreimbursable medical expenses related to the vaccine injury. A life care planner is usually retained to develop a life care plan to determine future medical and rehabilitative needs. Claimants are also entitled to lost wages, pain and suffering up to a jurisdictional maximum of $250,000, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. There is no provision for punitive damages. In all cases resulting in a vaccine-related death, a fixed payment of $250,000 is provided. Cases that reach the compensation phase frequently are settled by the parties. Awards are paid from a trust fund, which is funded by an excise tax on vaccines.
Because of the severity of most vaccine injuries and the likelihood of lifelong future damages, vaccine cases require a complex economic analysis of the damage payments to be made to the injured party through lump sum payments, annuities, and/or reversionary trusts. The damages analysis may include interpretation of statutory compensation provisions and legal precedent for certain elements of damages. Consideration must also be given to other primary benefits to which the injured party is entitled such as private insurance, Medicare, and benefits under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under the statute, these benefits may be offset against the vaccine compensation award. Medicaid-based programs are secondary to a Program award.
4-5.430 - Radiation Exposure Compensation Program—Contacts and Mailing Information
Assistant Director: Gerard W. Fischer, 202-616-4090
Senior Counsel: Dianne S. Spellberg, 202-616-4129
Mailing: Radiation Exposure Compensation Program
On October 15, 1990, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act ("the Act"), 42 U.S.C. § 2210 note (2006), which provides for compassionate payments to, or on behalf of, individuals who contracted certain cancers and other serious diseases following exposure to radiation that was released during above-ground nuclear weapons testing or as a result of their exposure to radiation during employment in uranium mines, mills, or in the transportation of uranium or vanadium-uranium ore.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (the "Radiation Program"), part of the Torts Branch, Civil Division, is responsible for administering the Act. The procedures established in the implementing regulations are designed to utilize existing records so that claims can be quickly resolved in a reliable, objective, nonadversarial manner with little administrative cost to the United States or to the person filing the claim. Part 79 of Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations.
There are five categories of claims: uranium miners, uranium millers, ore transporters, downwinders, and onsite participants. There are two major eligibility criteria for each category of claims: exposure to radiation and subsequent development of a compensable disease.
The onsite participant provisions of the Act provide a payment of $75,000 to, or on behalf of, individuals who contracted a compensable disease after participating onsite during a period of atmospheric nuclear testing between July 16, 1945, and December 31, 1962. The test site locations where atmospheric nuclear testing occurred are: (1) the Nevada Test Site; (2) the Pacific Test Sites; (3) the Trinity Test Site; and (4) the South Atlantic Test Site. § 4(a)(2)(C), 42 U.S.C. § 2210; 28 C.F.R. § 79.32. The onsite participant also must have developed one of the 20 cancers identified under the downwinder provisions.
The Act affords claimants the right to seek judicial review of a final action in a United States District Court. § 6(l). If a case appealing a denial decision to a United States District Court is received, please notify Gerard W. Fischer, Assistant Director, at 202-616-4090, or Dianne S. Spellberg, Senior Counsel, at 202-616-4129.
4-5.500 - Environmental Torts Contacts and Mailing Information
J. Patrick Glynn, (202) 616-4200, j.patrick.glynn@usdoj.civ.gov, Director.
Christina Falk, (202) 616-4216, christina.falk@usdoj.gov, Assistant Director.
Bridget Bailey Lipscomb, (202) 616-9356, bridget.lipscomb@usdoj.gov, Assistant Director.
Mailing: Torts Branch, Civil Division
Washington, D.C. 20044v
[cited in USAM 4-4.210; 4-5.200]
4-5.510 - Environmental Torts (Formerly Environmental and Occupational Disease Litigation (EODL))—Introduction
The Environmental Torts (ET) staff defends the United States in FTCA and other toxic tort actions arising from contamination of the environment or exposure to chemicals or substances in the workplace and elsewhere. Some of the most visible examples of the litigation over the past few years have been those cases dealing with groundwater and air-dispersed contamination from chemicals, radiation experimentation on human subjects, crop injury due to herbicide exposure, mold exposure, lead paint exposure, carbon monoxide exposure, and asbestos exposure. Other ongoing litigation addresses complaints of property damage and/or personal injury allegedly caused by PCBs and dioxins, lead-based paint, Hantavirus, Valley Fever, Agent Orange, Legionnella bacteria, exposure to formaldehyde in government-purchased trailers, as well as other "sick building" toxins, munitions and ordnance,and biological agents. Many of these cases arise out of activities of the military, but they stem from other agencies' activities, as well.
Toxic tort litigation involves direct personal injury and/or property damage actions and third-party claims by manufacturers and suppliers for contribution and indemnity. Claims are filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Suits in Admiralty and Public Vessels Acts, the Little Tucker Act, and against individual government employees seeking monetary damages. The ET staff litigates in the district courts and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Tort cases alleging negligence in the course of EPA'S Clean-Up Activities are the responsibility of ET. Vessel-caused pollution and clean-up cost recovery cases are handled by the Aviation & Admiralty staff.
Inquiries regarding toxic tort and asbestos litigation may be made by calling 202-616-4200, emailing the Director: j.patrick.glynn@usdoj.gov or writing to the Environmental Torts Section at Post Office Box 340, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washington, D.C. 20044. Because security screening delays U.S. Mail deliveries, we encourage the use of commercial deliveries, such as UPS or Federal Express. Commercial deliveries should be mailed to Environmental Torts, Torts Branch, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 800 South, Washington, D.C. 20004.
[cited in USAM 4-5.520]
Environmental and related product liability tort actions, whether involving mass numbers of parties or only a few, pose special case management problems and thus are designated as "primary" to be handled by Department of Justice attorneys. Given long latency periods, the litigation often is not filed until decades after exposure. The cases can require massive and prolonged discovery involving millions of documents and the analysis of convoluted and complex fact situations. For example, many of our cases, fact issues have spanned a period since prior to World War II.
Environmental tort litigation also requires familiarity with specialized scientific and medical issues. The source of contamination in any particular case may be chronic and latent, as with mold and asbestos exposure or progressive groundwater contamination, or may be readily apparent, as with chemical or industrial spills. Disease or injury often manifests itself only following cumulative or repeated exposure, and in many instances, the effects of exposure have not been definitively scientifically or medically documented.
United States Attorneys confronted with environmental and related product liability tort claims against the United States shall contact ET as early as possible, preferably before suit. ET is prepared to assume "primary" responsibility for toxic tort litigation as described within USAM 4-5.510.
It should be noted that tort suits alleging breaches of duty arising directly from regulatory activities of the government generally are within the purview of the Federal Tort Claims Act staff, and should be directed to that staff. See USAM 4-5.600. Matters involving clean-up activities of the Environmental Protection Agency, however, should immediately be brought to the attention of ET. Such cases should be handled jointly with the Environment and Natural Resources Division. Also, matters involving the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 should be referred to the Aviation and Admiralty staff.
4-5.600 - Federal Tort Claims Act Staff—Contacts and Mailing Information
Jeffrey Axelrad, (202) 616-4400, CIV05(JAXELRAD), Director.
Paul Figley, (202) 616-4248, CIV05(PFIGLEY), Deputy Director.
Assistant Directors: Roger D. Einerson, (202) 616-4250, CIV05(REINERSO); Phyllis J. Pyles, (202) 616-4252, CIV05(PPYLES).
Mailing: Civil Division
[cited in USAM 4-5.200; 4-5.520]
The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Staff litigates cases filed against the United States under the FTCA (except for aviation and most environmental tort suits); tort suits filed in district courts under legislation extending the FTCA to Community and Migrant Health Centers and to Indian tribes; and affirmative tort suits on behalf of federal agencies. The Staff is also responsible for the administration of the FTCA.
The FTCA Staff litigates seminal suits filed under the FTCA and related statutes authorizing tort suits against the United States. Representative cases include AIDs litigation, medical malpractice, mine inspection, and banking litigation. The Staff initiates changes in Department regulations implementing the FTCA, which apply throughout the government. The Staff provides guidance to all federal agencies, subject to oversight by Department officials, on policy issues arising under the FTCA. In addition, the Staff resolves administrative claims arising from Department of Justice activities to the extent that such claims are not delegated for direct handling to units within the Department.
The Torts Branch has prepared Monographs and a Handbook covering many recurring substantive issues pertaining to Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) litigation. The current FTCA Monographs are:
Each United States Attorney has received copies of the foregoing Monographs. If an Assistant United States Attorney needs an additional copy of a particular Monograph, it can be obtained by calling (202) 616-4233 or by writing to the Torts Branch, Post Office Box 888, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, D.C. 20044. In addition, a looseleaf handbook entitled "Damages Under the Federal Tort Claims Act" has been sent to each USAO and updated periodically. Contributions to the Damages Handbook are solicited from Assistant United States Attorneys.
United States Attorneys are authorized to make the certification provided for in 10 U.S.C. § 1089(c), 22 U.S.C. § 817(c), 28 U.S.C. § 2679(d), 38 U.S.C. § 4116(c), and 42 U.S.C. §§ 233(c) and 2458a(c), in order to substitute the United States as defendant in place of federal employees acting within the scope of their federal employment who have been sued under state tort law. See 28 C.F.R. § 15.3.
If advice is needed, the FTCA staff may be contacted at (202) 616-4400.
If advice is needed, the FTCA staff may be contacted at (202) 616-4296.
‹ 4-4.000 - Commercial Litigation
4-6.000 - Federal Programs ›