Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§4053 Adjustment and payment of claims; judicial review; limitations; jurisdiction

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 50— - NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM › Part Part A— - Industry Program With Federal Financial Assistance › § 4053

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Insurance companies in the flood-insurance pool may settle and pay valid flood insurance claims under this chapter. If a claim is denied, partly denied, or the claimant won't accept the amount offered, the claimant has one year after the insurer mails the denial notice to sue. The suit must be filed in the U.S. district court where the property was located, and that court alone decides the case no matter the amount involved.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §4053

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The insurance companies and other insurers which form, associate, or otherwise join together in the pool under this part may adjust and pay all claims for proved and approved losses covered by flood insurance in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and, upon the disallowance by any such company or other insurer of any such claim, or upon the refusal of the claimant to accept the amount allowed upon any such claim, the claimant, within one year after the date of mailing of notice of disallowance or partial disallowance of the claim, may institute an action on such claim against such company or other insurer in the United States district court for the district in which the insured property or the major part thereof shall have been situated, and original exclusive jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such court to hear and determine such action without regard to the amount in controversy.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original a reference to “this title” meaning title XIII of Pub. L. 90–448, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 572, known as the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4001 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 98–181 inserted “original exclusive” before “jurisdiction”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 120 days following Aug. 1, 1968, or such later date prescribed by the Secretary but in no event more than 180 days following Aug. 1, 1968, see section 1377 of Pub. L. 90–448, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 4053

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73