Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-110
§1494 Accounts of Officers, Agents or Contractors
Title 28 › PART IV — JURISDICTION AND VENUE › CHAPTER 91 — UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS › § 1494
Summary
The United States Court of Federal Claims can decide how much money the government owes or is owed for unsettled accounts tied to government officers, agents, contractors, or their guarantors, sureties, or personal representatives. The court can act if the person asked the right government office to settle the account, three years have passed with no settlement, and the United States has not already sued about it.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §1494
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The United States Court of Federal Claims shall have jurisdiction to determine the amount, if any, due to or from the United States by reason of any unsettled account of any officer or agent of, or contractor with, the United States, or a guarantor, surety or personal representative of any such officer, agent or contractor, and to render judgment thereof, where—
(1)claimant or the person he represents has applied to the proper department of the Government for settlement of the account;
(2)three years have elapsed from the date of such application without settlement; and
(3)no suit upon the same has been brought by the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 287 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 180, 36 Stat. 1141; Feb. 13, 1925, ch. 229, § 3, 43 Stat. 939). Only the jurisdictional provisions of section 287 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., are contained in this section. The procedural provisions are incorporated in section 2511 of this title. Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1992—Pub. L. 102–572 substituted “United States Court of Federal Claims” for “United States Claims Court”. 1982—Pub. L. 97–164 substituted “United States Claims Court” for “Court of Claims”. 1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, struck out “United States” from name of Court of Claims. 1953—Act July 28, 1953, substituted “United States Court of Claims” for “Court of Claims”, inserted “to or from” after “due”, and inserted “and to render judgment thereon,”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–572 effective Oct. 29, 1992, see section 911 of Pub. L. 102–572, set out as a note under section 171 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–164 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 402 of Pub. L. 97–164, set out as a note under section 171 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 1494
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110