Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-102
§508 Persons Making Seizures Pleading General Issue and Proving Special Matter
Title 19 › CHAPTER 3 — THE TARIFF AND RELATED PROVISIONS › SUBTITLE IV — CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION › part 5 — enforcement provisions › § 508
Summary
Allows an officer or anyone who helped seize goods under import or ship‑duty laws, or who acted under a judge’s warrant, to answer a lawsuit by denying the claim. They may then put the law and the specific facts that made their actions lawful into evidence.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §508
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
If any officer, or other person, executing or aiding or assisting in the seizure of goods, under any Act providing for or regulating the collection of duties on imports or tonnage, is sued for anything done in virtue of the powers given thereby, or by virtue of a warrant granted by any judge, or justice, pursuant to law, he may plead the general issue and give such Act and the special matter in evidence.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 3073 derived from act Mar. 2, 1799, ch. 22, § 71, 1 Stat. 678.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 508
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102