[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR2.2]

[Page 27-28]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 2--PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING AND SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS UNDER THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 2.2  Provisions of law and regulations thereunder.

    (a) Section 2672 of Title 28, U.S. Code, as above amended, provides 
that:

    The head of each Federal agency or his designee, in accordance with 
regulations prescribed by the Attorney General, may consider, ascertain, 
adjust, determine, compromise, and settle any claim for money damages 
against the United States for injury or loss of property or personal 
injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of 
any employee of the agency while acting within the scope of his office 
or employment, under circumstances where the United States, if a private 
person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of 
the place where the act or omission occurred: Provided, that any award, 
compromise, or settlement in excess of $25,000 shall be effected only 
with the prior written approval of the Attorney General or his designee.
    Subject to the provisions of this title relating to civil actions on 
tort claims against the United States, any such award, compromise, 
settlement, or determination shall be final and conclusive on all 
officers of the Government, except when procured by means of fraud.
    Any award, compromise, or settlement in an amount of $2,500 or less 
made pursuant to this section shall be paid by the head of the Federal 
agency concerned out of appropriations available to that agency. Payment 
of any award, compromise, or settlement in an amount in excess of $2,500 
made pursuant to this section or made by the Attorney General in any 
amount pursuant to section 2677 of this title shall be paid in a manner 
similar to judgments and compromises in like causes and appropriations 
or funds available for the payment of such judgments and compromises are 
hereby made available for the payment of awards, compromises, or 
settlements under this chapter.
    The acceptance by the claimant of any such award, compromise, or 
settlement shall be final and conclusive on the claimant, and shall 
constitute a complete release of any claim against the United States and 
against the employee of the Government whose act or omission gave rise 
to the claim, by reason of the same subject matter.

    (b) Subsection (a) section 2675 of said Title 28 provides that:

    An action shall not be instituted upon a claim against the United 
States for money

[[Page 28]]

damages for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death 
caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of 
the Government while acting within the scope of his office or 
employment, unless the claimant shall have first presented the claim to 
the appropriate Federal agency and his claim shall have been finally 
denied by the agency in writing and sent by certified or registered 
mail. The failure of an agency to make final disposition of a claim 
within 6 months after it is filed shall, at the option of the claimant 
any time thereafter, be deemed a final denial of the claim for purposes 
of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to 
such claims as may be asserted under the Federal Rules of Civil 
Procedure by third party complaint, crossclaim, or counterclaim.

    (c) Section 2678 of said Title 28 provides that no attorney shall 
charge fees in excess of 25 percent of a judgment or settlement after 
litigation, or over 20 percent of administrative settlements.
    (d) Section 2401(b) of said Title 28 provides that:

    A tort claim against the United States shall be forever barred 
unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency 
within 2 years after such claim accrues or unless action is begun within 
6 months after the date of mailing, by certified or registered mail, of 
notice of final denial of the claim by the agency to which it was 
presented.

    (e) Pursuant to section 2672 as amended, the Attorney General has 
issued regulations (herein referred to as ``the Regulations''; 28 CFR 
Part 14) prescribing standards and procedures for settlement of tort 
claims (31 FR 16616). Persons delegated authority under this part shall 
follow and be guided by such Regulations (28 CFR Part 14).

[32 FR 3769, Mar. 7, 1967, as amended at 63 FR 29945, June 2, 1998]