PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

If someone uses a fake trick, scheme, or device to get money, property, or other benefits from the federal government when buying, transferring, or disposing of property, they must pay the government $2,000 for each act, twice the amount of the government’s damages for each act, and the cost of the lawsuit. The government can instead choose to take a set penalty equal to two times the payment that was agreed, or make the person return the money or property taken while keeping as a set penalty whatever the person gave to the government. These civil penalties are in addition to other civil or criminal penalties. A government officer or employee is not personally liable for money the agency finds uncollectible if the property was handled under the law and rules, except for that person’s own fraud. A U.S. district court (including a territorial court) can hear these cases. Venue is proper if at least one defendant lives or can be found in the district, and the court can order someone outside the district to be brought in and served reasonably.

Title 40, §123

Public Buildings, Property, and Works, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

In connection with the procurement, transfer or disposition of property under this subtitle, a person that uses or causes to be used, or enters into an agreement, combination, or conspiracy to use or cause to be used, a fraudulent trick, scheme, or device for the purpose of obtaining or aiding to obtain, for any person, money, property, or other benefit from the Federal Government—

(1)shall pay to the Government an amount equal to the sum of—

(A)$2,000 for each act;

(B)two times the amount of damages sustained by the Government because of each act; and

(C)the cost of suit;

(2)if the Government elects, shall pay to the Government, as liquidated damages, an amount equal to two times the consideration that the Government agreed to give to the person, or that the person agreed to give to the Government; or

(3)if the Government elects, shall restore to the Government the money or property fraudulently obtained, with the Government retaining as liquidated damages, the money, property, or other consideration given to the Government.

(b)Additional Remedies and Criminal Penalties.—

The civil remedies provided in this section are in addition to all other civil remedies and criminal penalties provided by law.

(c)Immunity of Government Officials.—

An officer or employee of the Government is not liable (except for an individual’s own fraud) or accountable for collection of a purchase price that is determined to be uncollectible by the federal agency responsible for property if the property is transferred or disposed of in accordance with this subtitle and with regulations prescribed under this subtitle.

(d)Jurisdiction and Venue.—

(1)Definition.—

In this subsection, the term “district court” means a district court of the United States or a district court of a territory or possession of the United States.

(2)In general.—

A district court has original jurisdiction of an action arising under this section, and venue is proper, if at least one defendant resides or may be found in the court’s judicial district. Jurisdiction and venue are determined without regard to the place where acts were committed.

(3)Additional defendant outside judicial district.—

A defendant that does not reside and may not be found in the court’s judicial district may be brought in by order of the court, to be served personally, by publication, or in another reasonable manner directed by the court.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 123(a)40:489(b).June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title II, § 209, 63 Stat. 392. 123(b)40:489(d). 123(c)40:489(a). 123(d)40:489(c). In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “under this subtitle” are substituted for “hereunder” because “hereunder” probably means under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 which is restated in subtitle I of the revised title (except as noted in section 111 of the revised title and the accompanying revision note). The words “or engage in”, “or engaged in”, “securing or”, and “secure or” are omitted as unnecessary. The word “money” is substituted for “payment” for consistency in the section. In subsection (a)(1)(B), the words “because of each act” are substituted for “by reason thereof” for clarity. In subsection (a)(2), the words “or any Federal agency” and “or any Federal agency, as the case may be” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (a)(3), the words “fraudulently obtained” are substituted for “thus secured and obtained” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (d)(1), the word “several” is omitted as unnecessary. The words “the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia” in section 209(c) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 are omitted as included in “a district court of the United States” because of section 88 and 132(a) of title 28. Subsection (d)(2) is substituted for “[D]istrict courts . . . within whose jurisdictional limits the person, or persons, doing or committing such act, or any one of them, resides or shall be found, shall wheresoever such act may have been done or committed, have full power and jurisdiction to hear, try, and determine such suit” for clarity and to use terminology consistent with title 28, especially 28:1331 and 1391(b). In subsection (d)(3), the words “A defendant that does not reside and may not be found in the court’s judicial district” are substituted for “and such person or persons as are not inhabitants of or found within the district in which suit is brought” for clarity and to use terminology consistent with title 28, especially 28:1331 and 1391(b).

§123 Civil Remedies for Fraud

Summary

Title 40, §123

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata