Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§8173 Liability under this subchapter exclusive

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart G— - Insurance and Annuities › Chapter CHAPTER 81— - COMPENSATION FOR WORK INJURIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - EMPLOYEES OF NONAPPROPRIATED FUND INSTRUMENTALITIES › § 8173

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes the United States or certain nonappropriated fund organizations liable under this subchapter for disability or death from an injury (as the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act defines) of employees named in sections 8171 and 8172. That liability is the only legal responsibility toward the worker, their representative, spouse, dependents, next of kin, or anyone else — it replaces any other lawsuits or claims, including admiralty, workers’ compensation, or federal tort actions.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8173

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The liability of the United States or of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality described by section 2105(c) of this title, with respect to the disability or death resulting from injury, as defined by section 2(2) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 902(2)), of an employee referred to by section 8171 and 8172 of this title, shall be determined as provided by this subchapter. This liability is exclusive and instead of all other liability of the United States or the instrumentality to the employee, his legal representative, spouse, dependents, next of kin, and any other person otherwise entitled to recover damages from the United States or the instrumentality because of the disability or death in a direct judicial proceeding, in a civil action, or in admiralty, or by an administrative or judicial proceeding under a workmen’s compensation statute or under a Federal tort liability statute.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 150k–1(c).July 18, 1958, Pub. L. 85–538, § 1 “Sec. 2(c)”, 72 Stat. 397. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–106 substituted “(33 U.S.C. 902(2))” for “(33 U.S.C. 2(2))”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “section 2(2) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 2(2))” for “section 902(2) of title 33”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 8173

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73