Opinion ID: 186119
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Requirements of the Act

Text: Unique in the criminal law structure of the United States, the Ethics in Government Act provides for reimbursement of attorneys’ fees expended by subjects in defense against an 6 investigation under the Act. Specifically, 28 U.S.C. § 593(f)(1) states: Upon the request of an individual who is the subject of an investigation conducted by an independent counsel pursuant to this chapter, the division of the court may, if no indictment is brought against such individual pursuant to that investigation, award reimbursement for those reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by that individual during that investigation which would not have been incurred but for the requirements of this chapter. Because the Act ‘‘constitutes a waiver of sovereign immunity it is to be strictly construed.’’ In re Nofziger, 925 F.2d 428, 438 (D.C. Cir., Spec. Div., 1991) (per curiam). Under the Act, therefore, we can only order reimbursement for attorney fees when we determine that: (1) the subject of the IC investigation, (2) incurred the fees during the investigation, and (3) would not have incurred them ‘‘but for’’ the requirements of the Act. See, e.g., In re Pierce (Kisner Fee Application), 178 F.3d 1356, 1358 (D.C. Cir., Spec. Div., 1999) (per curiam). In addition to these three elements, the fee applicant must also establish that the fees are reasonable. See, e.g., In re Meese, 907 F.2d 1192, 1201–03 (D.C. Cir., Spec. Div., 1990) (per curiam). In light of our disposition of the pending application on the basis of the elements already listed, we will not herein reach the question of reasonableness.