Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/05/29/2015-12991/authority-of-the-assistant-attorneys-general-to-compromise-or-close-civil-claims
Timestamp: 2017-09-20 20:23:34
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Federal Register :: Authority of the Assistant Attorneys General To Compromise or Close Civil Claims
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-12991 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-12991
The current delegations of authority to compromise or close civil claims are contained in 28 CFR part 0, subpart Y, §§ 0.160-0.169. See 60 FR 15675 (Mar. 27, 1995). This final rule increases the monetary thresholds for the exercise of this authority by the Assistant Attorneys General and increases the redelegation authority to the United States Attorneys with respect to accepting offers of compromise for affirmative claims.
This final rule amends 28 CFR 0.160(a)(1) to increase the authority of the Assistant Attorneys General to compromise a civil claim asserted by the United States where the proposed settlement is within $10 million or 15 percent of the original claim (up from the current threshold of $2 million or 15 percent of the original claim). As provided in § 0.164, this change to § 0.160(a)(1) also means that the Assistant Attorneys General will have authority to close affirmative civil matters within the same new limits.
The final rule adds a new paragraph § 0.160(a)(2) to allow the Assistant Attorneys General to accept compromises in affirmative civil cases independent of the $10 million cap in the limited circumstance where a qualified financial expert has reviewed the defendant's finances and has determined that the defendant likely does not have the ability to pay more than the proposed compromise offer. This would obviate the need to obtain higher level approval when claims are being compromised simply based on the defendant's financial condition rather than an analysis of the legal or factual merits of the claim. To clarify that new § 0.160(a)(2) applies to all cases within the authority of the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, including cases brought under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., the final rule also amends § 0.160(c)(2) by removing language similar to new § 0.160(a)(2).
In addition, the final rule also increases the authority for the Assistant Attorneys General to accept offers in compromise of claims asserted against the United States of up to $4 million (up from the current threshold of $2 million). See new § 0.160(a)(3) (currently § 0.160(a)(2)).
The final rule also amends § 0.168(d) to allow a delegation of authority to the United States Attorneys to compromise claims asserted by the United States for up to $10 million (up from a claim of $5 million where the settlement difference does not exceed $1 million). Citations to subsections of § 0.160 in §§ 0.162 and 0.168 also have been revised in light of the changes to § 0.160.Start Printed Page 30618
Finally, this final rule would update the agency reference in § 0.169(b) defining the term “gross amount of the original claim” for purposes of any civil claim brought under section 592 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.
2. In § 0.160, revise paragraphs (a), (c) introductory text, and (c)(2) to read as follows:
§ 0.162
3. Amend § 0.162 by removing the reference to “§ 0.160(c)(2)” and adding in its place “§ 0.160(d)(2)”.
4. Amend § 0.168:
a. In paragraph (a) by removing the reference to “§§ 0.160(a) and (b)” and adding in its place “§§ 0.160(a), (b), and (c)”; and
§ 0.168
(d) Subject to the limitations set forth in § 0.160(d) and paragraph (a) of this section, redelegations by the Assistant Attorneys General to United States Attorneys may include the authority to:
(1) Accept offers in compromise of claims asserted by the United States in all cases in which the gross amount of Start Printed Page 30619the original claim does not exceed $10,000,000; and
5. Amend paragraph (b) of § 0.169 by removing the words “Customs Service's” and adding in their place the words “United States Customs and Border Protection's”.