Opinion ID: 460105
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Stacker's claim against Green.

Text: 25 Although the district court did not explain its determination that, absent negligence on the part of Stacker, Green must indemnify Stacker, 8 we think it clear that if the government has a right of reimbursement the beneficiary of the FECA payments and the third party recovery must ultimately bear the burden of reimbursement. Section 8132 implicitly provides for this result. Since 1916, the FECA has required the beneficiary to reimburse the United States out of the proceeds of a third party recovery. See Federal Employees' Compensation Act, ch. 458, Sec. 27, 39 Stat. 747 (1916) (current version at 5 U.S.C. Sec. 8132 (1982) ). Only in 1974, in an attempt to expedite the reimbursement process, did Congress amend that section of the FECA to give the United States a lien against the proceeds of a third party recovery. See 5 U.S.C. Sec. 8132 (1982); see also S.Rep. No. 93-1081, 93d Cong., 2d Sess., reprinted in 1974 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 5341, 5351. Clearly, Congress intended that the beneficiary of the FECA payments and the third party recovery must bear the ultimate burden of reimbursement. We therefore agree with the district court that a party liable to the United States under the lien language of section 8132 is generally entitled to indemnity from the ultimate beneficiary. 9 26