§2414 Payment of judgments and compromise settlements

Summary

The Secretary of the Treasury must pay final court judgments against the United States, except as chapter 71 of title 41 says otherwise. If a State or foreign court or tribunal finds the United States, its agencies, or officials liable, the Treasury will pay only after the Attorney General certifies that payment is in the United States’ interest. When the Attorney General decides not to appeal or not to seek further review, he must certify that and the judgment is treated as final. Settlements the Attorney General or someone he authorizes makes to avoid or defend imminent lawsuits against the United States, its agencies, or officials must be handled and paid the same way as similar judgments. Money appropriated for judgments can be used to pay these compromise settlements.