Suing the Federal Government

Federal Tort Claims Act

History

Traditional Sovereign Immunity "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury,

but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." U.S. Const. art. I, § 9.

5th Amendment – “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

All other compensation had to be by private bills What problems do private bills pose?

Court of Claims

1855 Contracts, tax refunds, takings - not torts Administrative tribunal to review claims and make

recommendations to Congress Later Congress made the decisions binding Not an Art III court Like bankruptcy courts

Appeal to the Federal circuit and the United States Supreme Court

Federal Tort Claims Act

Went into effect in 1945 All torts were private bills before then Tied up Congress and encouraged corruption

Established a compensation system for negligence claims Looks to the law of the state where the incident

occurred for the legal standard of care We will discuss the procedure under the FTCA later.

Construction of Statutes in Derogation of Immunity

The Constitution only provides for compensation for takings of private property for public use.

All other compensation is governed by statute. Even Bivens actions are constitutionally required

under current case law (2013) If the plaintiff fails to state a claim under the

statute, or fails to comply with the statutory procedure, then immunity is not abrogated and there is no jurisdiction for the claim.

Dalehite v. U.S., 346 U.S. 15 (1953)

Texas City Disaster http://www.local1259iaff.org/disaster.html

Why is the TVA producing ammonium nitrate fertilizer? What are other uses of ammonium nitrate?

Where is it going in 1947?

The General Claim

The negligence charged was that the United States, without definitive investigation of Fertilizer Grade Ammonium Nitrate (FGAN) properties, shipped or permitted shipment to a congested area without warning of the possibility of explosion under certain conditions.

The District Court accepted this theory. A pattern in these cases – the local judge is

hard pressed to deny compensation

Specific Findings by the Trial Court

the Government had been careless in drafting and adopting the fertilizer export plan as a whole,

specific negligence in various phases of the manufacturing process, and

those which emphasized official dereliction of duty in failing to police the shipboard loading.

The Statutory Defense

(a) Any claim based upon an act or omission of an employee of the Government, exercising due care, in the execution of a statute or regulation, whether or not such statute or regulation be valid, or based upon the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of a federal agency or an employee of the Government, whether or not the discretion involved be abused.

What is the Intent of this Provision?

What is a discretionary function? Why do we limit claims based on government

decisionmaking? What are the consequences for allowing litigants to

challenge government polices? How does this mirror juridical review of rules and

adjudications? What is the remedy for bad decisions? What about compensation?

The Supreme Court View of Discretion

So we know that the draftsmen did not intend it to relieve the Government from liability for such common-law torts as an automobile collision caused by the negligence of an employee ... of the administering agency. We know it was intended to cover more than the administration of a statute or regulation because it appears disjunctively in the second phrase of the section. The "discretion" protected by the section is not that of the judge -- a power to decide within the limits of positive rules of law subject to judicial review. It is the discretion of the executive or the administrator to act according to one's judgment of the best course, a concept of substantial historical ancestry in American law

Allen v. United States, 816 F.2d 1417 (10th Cir. 1987) - This Clears up the Cloud

How did the government put these people at risk? Did the government deny that it caused any

injuries? Was this an accident? What did the government intend to do? What is the discretionary authority issue and how

was it resolved? What do you do if you do not like this?

FTCA Procedure

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Causes of Action under the FTCA - Sec 2672

The head of each Federal agency ... 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

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Limitations on Liability - Sec 2674

The United States shall be liable, respecting the provisions of this title relating to tort claims, in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances, but shall not be liable for interest prior to judgment or for punitive damages.

If, however, in any case wherein death was caused, the law of the place where the act or omission complained of occurred provides, or has been construed to provide, for damages only punitive in nature, the United States shall be liable for actual or compensatory damages, measured by the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death to the persons respectively, for whose benefit the action was brought, in lieu thereof.

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Exceptions to the FTCA - § 28 USC Sec 2680

http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/immunity/ftca_exceptions.htm

(h) originally did not include the provision for law enforcement officers.

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Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971)

Bivens recognized that there is a direct action against federal employees for violations of constitutional rights Bivens is a personal action, not an official

capacity action Why might you use Bivens rather than state tort

remedy against the officer?

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2680(h) - intentional torts by police officers - revised after Bivens

Has become a substitute for a Bivens action for covered officers. When would a Bivens action still be possible? When would an ordinary tort action be

possible? A recent case allows a Bivens action against

federal medical personnel in a detention center.

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Administrative Procedural Requirements - Sec 2675

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

Form 95 - FTCA claims form Alternatives to Form 95

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What if the Agency Does Not Act on the Claim?

The failure of an agency to make final disposition of a claim within six 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.

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Filing a Claim is Jurisdictional

This is an administrative compensation scheme, so it is subject to exhaustion of remedies You must file a claim with the agency with 2 years of the

accidence You can only go to court after the agency rules on the claim or

after six months "The failure of an agency to make final disposition of a claim

within six 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."

If you do not comply with this requirement, your case will be dismissed and if the 2 years has elapsed, you will be prescribed.

Berkovitz by Berkovitz v. U.S., 486 U.S. 531 (1988)

Berkovitz by Berkovitz v. U.S., 486 U.S. 531 (1988)

What was the product in Berkovitz? What did the FDA regulations require? What did the plaintiffs claim the FDA failed

to do? What was the FDA’s defense?

Varig Airlines (in Berkovitz)

What was the injury in Varig Airlines? What did the enabling act require the agency

to do? What did the regs require? How are the regs in Berkovitz different from

those in Varig Airlines?

Agency Liability

Why was the FDA liable in Berkovitz? How could the FDA have worded the

regulations to avoid this sort of liability? Why might that have raised a red flag during

notice and comment?