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Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60

§3761 Settlement of Claims Generally

Title 22 › Chapter 51— PANAMA CANAL › Subchapter I— ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS › Part 4— Claims for Injuries to Persons or Property › Subpart i— general provisions › § 3761

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Panama Canal Commission can settle and pay claims for property loss, injury, or death caused by operating the canal and its facilities. It may pay up to $50,000 for any one claim, using Commission funds. If a person accepts the payment, that choice is final and releases the United States and its employees acting within their jobs. Except as section 3776 allows, no suit may be brought against the United States, the Commission, or its employees for these claims. Employees can still be sued for acts outside their duties or for intentional harm. Sections 1346(b) and chapter 171 of title 28 do not apply.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §3761

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to the provisions of this part, the Commission may adjust and pay claims for injury to, or loss of, property or for personal injury or death, arising from the operation of the Panama Canal or related facilities and appurtenances.
(b)The Commission may pay not more than $50,000 on any claim described in subsection (a).
(c)An award made to a claimant under this section shall be payable out of any moneys made available to the Commission. The acceptance by the claimant of the award shall be final and conclusive on the claimant, and shall constitute a complete release by the claimant of his claim against the United States and against any employee of the United States acting in the course of his employment who is involved in the matter giving rise to the claim.
(d)Except as provided in section 3776 of this title, no action for damages on claims cognizable under this part shall lie against the United States or the Commission, and no such action shall lie against any officer or employee of the United States. Neither this section nor section 3776 of this title shall preclude actions against officers or employees of the United States for injuries resulting from their acts outside the scope of their employment or not in the line of their duties, or from their acts committed with the intent to injure the person or property of another.
(e)The provisions of section 1346(b) of title 28 and the provisions of chapter 171 of such title shall not apply to claims cognizable under this part.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–106 struck out “appropriated for or” after “any moneys”. 1987—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–203 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “No claim for an amount exceeding $50,000 shall be adjusted and paid by the Commission under the provisions of this subpart.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 3761

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60