Case Name: SILVA v. UNITED STATES
Court: United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1923-09-12
Citations: 292 F. 464
Docket Number: No. 1961
Parties: SILVA v. UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 292
Pages: 464–464

Head Matter:
SILVA v. UNITED STATES.
(District Court, D. Massachusetts.
September 12, 1923.)
No. 1961.
United States @=»l25 — Action against, cannot be maintained for injury to employee.
Act Sept. 7, 1916 (Comp. St. §§ 8932a-8932uu), does not authorize an action against the United States to recover compensation for injury to an employee.
<§=»For other cases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes.
At Law. Action by A. A. Silva against the United States.
On motion by plaintiff to amend declaration. Denied.
Hale & Dorr and Virgil C. Brink, all of Boston, Mass., for plaintiff.
The United States Attorney, opposed.

Opinion:
LOWELL, District Judge.
The amended declaration sets forth facts which the plaintiff contends constitute a cause of action in contract against the United States to recover compensation for injuries received by the plaintiff while at work at the Boston Navy Yard.
Compensation is granted by the United States to certain of its employees who receive injuries while in the discharge of their duty. Act Sept. 7, 1916, 39 Stat. 742, U. S. Comp. St. § 8932a to 8932uu. The system of compensation under this act, which is known as the Federal Employees5 Compensation Act, is administered by a commission of three-members. Section 28, U. S. Comp. St. '§ 8932nn. There is no provision for an action at law against the United States. In Dahn v. Davis, 258 U. S. 421, 431, 42 Sup. Ct. 320, 322 (66 L. Ed. 696), Mr. Justice Clarke says of this statute:
"Tbe act does not contemplate or provide for suits against tbe government."
As there is no basis for an action against the United States, the amendment to the declaration does not set forth a cause of action,, and the motion to amend the plaintiffs declaration must be denied.