31 U.S.C. § 1304

Judgments, awards, and compromise settlements

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(a) Necessary amounts are appropriated to pay final judgments, awards, compromise settlements, and interest and costs specified in the judgments or otherwise authorized by law when—(1) payment is not otherwise provided for;(2) payment is certified by the Secretary of the Treasury; and(3) the judgment, award, or settlement is payable—(A) under section 2414, 2517, 2672, or 2677 of title 28;(B) under section 3723 of this title;(C) under a decision of a board of contract appeals; or(D) in excess of an amount payable from the appropriations of an agency for a meritorious claim under section 2733, 2733a, or 2734 of title 10, section 715 of title 32, or section 20113 of title 51.(b)(1) Interest may be paid from the appropriation made by this section—(A) on a judgment of a district court, only when the judgment becomes final after review on appeal or petition by the United States Government, and then only from the date of filing of the transcript of the judgment with the Secretary of the Treasury through the day before the date of the mandate of affirmance; or(B) on a judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or the United States Court of Federal Claims under section 2516(b) of title 28, only from the date of filing of the transcript of the judgment with the Secretary of the Treasury through the day before the date of the mandate of affirmance.(2) Interest payable under this subsection in a proceeding reviewed by the Supreme Court is not allowed after the end of the term in which the judgment is affirmed.(c)(1) A judgment or compromise settlement against the Government shall be paid under this section and sections 2414, 2517, and 2518 11 See References in Text note below. of title 28 when the judgment or settlement arises out of an express or implied contract made by—(A) the Army and Air Force Exchange Service;(B) the Navy Exchanges;(C) the Marine Corps Exchanges;(D) the Coast Guard Exchanges; or(E) the Exchange Councils of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.(2) The Exchange making the contract shall reimburse the Government for the amount paid by the Government.(d) Beginning not later than the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, and unless the disclosure of such information is otherwise prohibited by law or a court order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the public on a website, as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after the date on which a payment under this section is tendered, the following information with regard to that payment:(1) The name of the specific agency or entity whose actions gave rise to the claim or judgment.(2) The name of the plaintiff or claimant.(3) The name of counsel for the plaintiff or claimant.(4) The amount paid representing principal liability, and any amounts paid representing any ancillary liability, including attorney fees, costs, and interest.(5) A brief description of the facts that gave rise to the claim.(6) The name of the agency that submitted the claim.(Pub. L. 97–258, §§ 1, 2(m)(2), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 917, 1062; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(b)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516; Pub. L. 104–316, title II, § 202(m), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3843; Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(b), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4201(b), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VII, § 731(c)(2), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1460.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
1304(a)	31:724a(1st sentence words before 1st proviso).	July 27, 1956, ch. 748, § 1302(1st sentence), 70 Stat. 694; Aug. 30, 1961, Pub. L. 87–187, § 3, 75 Stat. 416; July 18, 1966, Pub. L. 89–506, § 6, 80 Stat. 307; July 23, 1970, Pub. L. 91–350, § 1(c), 84 Stat. 449; restated May 4, 1977, Pub. L. 95–26, § 101(2d par. under heading “Claims and Judgments”), 91 Stat. 96; Mar. 7, 1978, Pub. L. 95–240, § 201, 92 Stat. 116; Nov. 1, 1978, Pub. L. 95–563, § 14(c), 92 Stat. 2390; Apr. 2, 1982, Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 155, title III, § 302(c), 96 Stat. 47, 56.
1304(b)	28:2516(b)(less 1st sentence words after last comma).
	31:724a(1st sentence 1st, 2d provisos).
1304(c)	31:724a(1st sentence last proviso)

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated” are omitted as surplus. The words “awards rendered by the Indian Claims Commission” are omitted as executed because under 25:70v the Commission was dissolved and all of its outstanding cases were transferred to the Court of Claims. Under 25:70v–3, judgments on cases transferred to the Court of Claims are judgments under 28:2517 and 2518 and are therefore included under clause (3)(A) of the subsection.

In subsection (b), the text of 28:2516(b)(less 1st sentence words after last comma) is omitted as superseded by 31:724a.

In subsection (b)(1)(A), the words “through the day before the date” are substituted for “to the date” as being more precise.

Editorial NotesReferences in Text

Section 2518 of title 28, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was repealed by Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(l), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 43.

The date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 116–9, which was approved Mar. 12, 2019.

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 116–92, which directed substitution of “2733, 2733a,” for “2733,”, was executed by making the substitution for “2733” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–9 added subsec. (d).

2010—Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 111–314 substituted “section 20113 of title 51” for “section 203 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2473)”.

1996—Subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(1)(A), (B). Pub. L. 104–316 substituted “Secretary of the Treasury” for “Comptroller General”.

1992—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–572 substituted “United States Court of Federal Claims” for “United States Claims Court”.

1982—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 97–258, § 2(m)(2)(A), struck out “under section 2411(b) of title 28” after “district court”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 97–258, § 2(m)(2)(B), substituted “Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or the United States Claims Court” for “Court of Claims”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2019 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–92 applicable to any claim filed under section 2733a of Title 10, Armed Forces, on or after Jan. 1, 2020, and any claim filed in calendar year 2020 deemed to be filed within the time period specified in section 2733a(b)(4) of Title 10 if filed within three years after it accrues, see section 731(d) of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2733a of Title 10.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–572 effective Oct. 29, 1992, see section 911 of Pub. L. 102–572, set out as a note under section 171 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–258, § 2(m), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1062, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1982.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 244 cases (64 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: Marilyn Keepseagle v. Sonny Perdue, 856 F.3d 1039 (D.C. Cir. 2017).

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Marilyn Keepseagle v. Sonny Perdue, 856 F.3d 1039 (D.C. Cir. 2017). · cites it 10× “And he contends that the provision violates the Judgment Fund Act, 31 U.S.C. § 1304 (a)(3), because cy-près beneficiaries are “uninjured non-parties” who would not be able to recover judgments against the United States.”

Marathon Oil Co. & Mobile Oil Expl. & Producing Se., Inc. v. United States, 374 F.3d 1123 (Fed. Cir. 2004). · cites it 19× “Finally, chapter 13 of title 31, entitled “Appropriations,” contains 31 U.S.C. § 1304 , commonly known as the Judgment Fund statute, which, according to its title, creates an appropriation for “Judgments, awards, and compromise settlements.”

Repub. Nat'l Bank of Miami v. United States, 506 U.S. 80 (1992). · cites it 8× “" 31 U. S. C. § 1304 . Title 28 U. S. C. § 2414 , in turn, authorizes the payment of "final judgments rendered by a district court .”

Wolfchild v. United States, 101 Fed. Cl. 54 (Fed. Cl. 2011). · cites it 19× “§ 2517 and 31 U.S.C. § 1304 ? 2) If Chapter 16 of Title 26 does not apply to such a money judgment, can and should a distribution plan nonetheless follow and reflect the plan provisions set out in Chapter 16? 3) If Chapter 16 of Title 25 does apply to such a money judgment, what…”

Cnty. of Suffolk, Ny v. Sebelius, 605 F.3d 135 (2d Cir. 2010). · cites it 5× “Second, plaintiffs contend that the district court also erred by holding that they could not seek compensation from the appropriation created by the Judgment Fund, 31 U.S.C. § 1304 (a). At bottom, however, both of these arguments fail to account for the limitations on this…”

Moda Health Plan, Inc. v. United States, 892 F.3d 1311 (Fed. Cir. 2018). · cites it 4× “31 U.S.C. § 1304 (a). The Judgment Fund “does not create an all- purpose fund for judicial disbursement.”

Maine Cmty. Health Options v. United States, 140 S. Ct. 1308 (2020). · cites it 2× “be paid out of any general appro- priation therefor.” §2517(a). The Judgment Fund is a permanent and indefinite appropriation for “[n]ecessary amounts .”

Richard Lucas v. United States of Am., Richard Lucas, Cross-Appellees v. United States of Am., Cross-Appellant, 807 F.2d 414 (5th Cir. 1986). · cites it 4× “See 31 U.S.C. § 1304 (b)(1)(A). The court awarded no damages for the parents’ separate claims for pain and suffering.”

Off. of Pers. Mgmt. v. Richmond, 496 U.S. 414 (1990). · cites it 2× “See 31 U. S. C. § 1304 . But respondent's claim for relief does not arise under any of these provisions.”

Clarence Lee, Sr. v. United States, 765 F.3d 521 (5th Cir. 2014). · cites it 5× “For the following reasons, we VACATE the district court’s judgment insofar as it failed to fashion a damages award similar to that contemplated by the Texas periodic payment statutory scheme and awarded post-judgment interest not in compliance with 31 U.S.C. § 1304 (b)(1)(A). We…”

Cherokee Nation of Okla. v. Leavitt, 543 U.S. 631 (2005). · cites it 2× “The Government, without denying that this is so as a general matter of procurement law, says nothing to convince us that a different legal rule should apply here.”

Furash & Co. v. United States, 252 F.3d 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2001). · cites it 3× “Accordingly, Congress amended the Tucker Act and the “judgment fund” statute, 31 U.S.C. § 1304 , to give the Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction over actions against those non-appropriated fund instrumentalities.”

Show all 244 citing cases →

— 31 U.S.C. § 1304(a)(1) — 1 case

Availability of the Judgment Fund for the Payment of Judgments or Settlements in Suits Brought Against the Commodity Credit Corp. Under the Fed. Tort Claims Act (OLC 1989).

— 31 U.S.C. § 1304(a)(3)(C) — 1 case

Availability of Judgment Fund in Cases Not Involving a Money Judgment Claim (OLC 1989).

— 31 U.S.C. § 1304(b)(1)(A) — 2 cases

Lucas v. United States, 757 S.W.2d 687 (Tex. 1988).

O'Neal v. United States (W.D. La. 2022).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.