24 C.F.R. Subpart A—Claims Against Government Under Federal Tort Claims Act
Title 24 - Housing and Urban Development
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5514; 28 U.S.C. 2672; 31 U.S.C. 3711, 3716–3718, 3721; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d).
Source: 36 FR 24427, Dec. 22, 1971, unless otherwise noted.
(a) This subpart applies to claims asserted under the Federal Tort Claims Act, as amended, accruing on or after January 18, 1967, for money damages against the United States for injury to or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of an officer or employee of the Department while acting within the scope of his office or employment. (b) This subpart is issued subject to and consistent with applicable regulations on administrative claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act issued by the Attorney General (31 FR 16616; 28 CFR part 14). (c) The terms Department and Organizational unit are defined in 24 CFR part 5. [36 FR 24427, Dec. 22, 1971, as amended at 61 FR 5204, Feb. 9, 1996]
Title 24: Housing and Urban Development
PART 17—ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS
Subpart A—Claims Against Government Under Federal Tort Claims Act
General Provisions
§ 17.1 Scope; definitions.
Procedures
§ 17.2 Administrative claim; when presented; appropriate HUD office.
(a) For purposes of this subpart, a claim shall be deemed to have been presented when the Department receives, at a place designated in paragraph (b) of this section, an executed Claim for Damages or Injury, Standard Form 95, or other written notification of an incident, accompanied by a claim for money damages in a sum certain for injury to or loss of property, for personal injury, or for death alleged to have occurred by reason of the incident. A claim which should have been presented to the Department, but which was mistakenly addressed to or filed with another Federal agency, is deemed to be presented to the Department as of the date that the claim is received by the Department. If a claim is mistakenly addressed to or filed with the Department, the Department shall forthwith transfer it to the appropriate Federal agency, if ascertainable, or return it to the claimant.
(b) A claimant shall mail or deliver his claim to the office of employment of the Department employee or employees whose negligent or wrongful act or omission is alleged to have caused the loss or injury complained of. Where such office of employment is the Department Central Office in Washington, or is not reasonably known and not reasonably ascertainable, claimant shall file his claim with the Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20410. In all other cases, claimant shall address his claim to the head of the appropriate office, the address of which will generally be found listed in the local telephone directory.
§ 17.3 Administrative claim; who may file.
(a) A claim for injury to or loss of property may be presented by the owner of the property, his duly authorized agent, or his legal representative.
(b) A claim for personal injury may be presented by the injured person, his duly authorized agent, or his legal representative.
(c) A claim based on death may be presented by the executor or administrator of the decedent's estate, or by any other person legally entitled to assert such a claim in accordance with applicable State law.
(d) A claim for loss wholly compensated by an insurer with the rights of a subrogee may be presented by the insurer. A claim for loss partially compensated by an insurer with the rights of a subrogee may be presented by the insurer or the insured individually, as their respective interests appear, or jointly. Whenever an insurer presents a claim asserting the rights of a subrogee, he shall present with his claim appropriate evidence that he has the rights of a subrogee.
(e) A claim presented by an agent or legal representative shall be presented in the name of the claimant, be signed by the agent or legal representative, show the title or legal capacity of the person signing, and be accompanied by evidence of his authority to present a claim on behalf of the claimant as agent, executor, administrator, parent, guardian, or other representative.
§ 17.4 Administrative claim; evidence and information to be submitted.
(a) Personal injury. In support of a claim for personal injury, including pain and suffering, the claimant may be required to submit the following evidence or information:
(1) A written report by his attending physician or dentist setting forth the nature and extent of the injury, nature and extent of treatment, any degree of temporary or permanent disability, the prognosis, period of hospitalization, and any diminished earning capacity. In addition, the claimant may be required to submit to a physical or mental examination by a physician employed or designated by the Department or another Federal agency. A copy of the report of the examining physician shall be made available to the claimant upon the claimant's written request provided that he has, upon request, furnished the report referred to in the first sentence of this subparagraph and has made or agrees to make available to the Department any other physician's report previously or thereafter made of the physical or mental condition which is the subject matter of his claim;
(2) Itemized bills for medical, dental, and hospital expenses incurred, or itemized receipts of payment for such expenses;
(3) If the prognosis reveals the necessity for future treatment, a statement of expected expenses for such treatment;
(4) If a claim is made for loss of time from employment, a written statement from his employer showing actual time lost from employment, whether he is a full- or part-time employee, and wages or salary actually lost;
(5) If a claim is made for loss of income and the claimant is self-employed, documentary evidence showing the amount of earnings actually lost;
(6) Any other evidence or information which may have a bearing on either the responsibility of the United States for the personal injury or the damages claimed.
(b) Death. In support of a claim based on death, the claimant may be required to submit the following evidence or information:
(1) An authenticated death certificate or other competent evidence showing cause of death, date of death, and age of the decedent;
(2) Decedent's employment or occupation at time of death, including his monthly or yearly salary or earnings (if any), and the duration of his last employment or occupation;
(3) Full names, addresses, birth dates, kinship, and marital status of the decedent's survivors, including identification of those survivors who were dependent for support upon the decedent at the time of his death;
(4) Degree of support afforded by the decedent to each survivor dependent upon him for support at the time of his death;
(5) Decedent's general physical and mental condition before death;
(6) Itemized bills for medical and burial expenses incurred by reason of the incident causing death, or itemized receipts of payment for such expenses;
(7) If damages for pain and suffering prior to death are claimed, a physician's detailed statement specifying the injuries suffered, duration of pain and suffering, any drugs administered for pain, and the decedent's physical condition in the interval between injury and death;
(8) Any other evidence or information which may have a bearing on either the responsibility of the United States for the death or the damages claimed.
(c) Property damage. In support of a claim for injury to or loss of property, real or personal, the claimant may be required to submit the following evidence or information:
(1) Proof of ownership;
(2) A detailed statement of the amount claimed with respect to each item of property;
(3) An itemized receipt of payment for necessary repairs or itemized written estimates of the cost of such repairs;
(4) A statement listing date of purchase, purchase price, and salvage value where repair is not economical;
(5) Any other evidence or information which may have a bearing on either the responsibility of the United States for the injury to or loss of property or the damages claimed.
§ 17.5 Investigations.
The Department may investigate, or may request any other Federal agency to investigate, a claim filed under this subpart.
§ 17.6 Claims investigation.
(a) When a claim has been filed with the Department, the head of the organizational unit concerned or his designee shall designate one employee in that unit who shall act as, and who shall be referred to herein as, the Claims Investigating Officer for that particular claim. When a claim is received by the head of an organizational unit to which this subpart applies, it shall be forwarded with or without comment to the designated Claims Investigating Officer, who shall:
(1) Investigate as completely as is practicable the nature and circumstances of the occurrence causing the loss or damage of the claimant's property;
(2) Ascertain the extent of loss or damage to the claimant's property;
(3) Assemble the necessary forms with required data contained therein;
(4) Prepare a brief statement setting forth the facts relative to the claim, a statement whether the claim satisfies the requirements of this subpart, and a recommendation as to the amount to be paid in settlement of the claim;
(5) Submit such forms, statements, and all necessary supporting papers to the head of the organizational unit having jurisdiction over the employee involved, who will be responsible for assuring that all necessary data has been obtained for the file. The head of the organizational unit will transmit the entire file to the General Counsel.
§ 17.7 Authority to adjust, determine, compromise, and settle claims.
The General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel, and such employees of the Office of the General Counsel as may be designated by the General Counsel, are authorized to consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, compromise, and settle claims pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2671, and the regulations contained in 28 CFR part 14 and in this subpart.
§ 17.8 Limitations on authority.
(a) An award, compromise, or settlement of a claim under section 2672 of Title 28, United States Code, and this subpart in excess of $25,000 may be effected only with the prior written approval of the Attorney General or his designee. For the purpose of this paragraph, a principal claim and any derivative or subrogated claim shall be treated as a single claim.
(b) An administrative claim may be adjusted, determined, compromised, or settled only after consultation with the Department of Justice when, in the opinion of the General Counsel or his designee:
(1) A new precedent or a new point of law is involved; or
(2) A question of policy is or may be involved; or
(3) The United States is or may be entitled to indemnity or contribution from a third party, and the Department is unable to adjust the third party claim; or
(4) The compromise of a particular claim, as a practical matter, will or may control the disposition of a related claim in which the amount to be paid may exceed $25,000.
(c) An administrative claim may be adjusted, determined, compromised, or settled only after consultation with the Department of Justice when the Department is informed or is otherwise aware that the United States or an officer, employee, agent, or cost-type contractor of the United States is involved in litigation based on a claim arising out of the same incident or transaction.
§ 17.9 Referral to Department of Justice.
When Department of Justice approval or consultation is required under §17.8, the referral or request shall be transmitted to the Department of Justice by the General Counsel of the Department or his designee.
§ 17.11 Final denial of claim.
Final denial of an administrative claim shall be in writing, and notification of denial shall be sent to the claimant, his attorney, or legal representative by certified or registered mail. The notification of final denial may include a statement of the reasons for the denial and shall include a statement that, if the claimant is dissatisfied with the Department action, he may file suit in an appropriate U.S. District Court not later than 6 months after the date of mailing of the notification.
§ 17.12 Action on approved claim.
(a) Payment of a claim approved under this subpart is contingent on claimant's execution of: (1) A Claim for Damage or Injury, Standard Form 95; (2) a claims settlement agreement; and (3) a Voucher for Payment, Standard Form 1145, as appropriate. When a claimant is represented by an attorney, the voucher for payment shall designate both the claimant and his attorney as payees, and the check shall be delivered to the attorney, whose address shall appear on the voucher.
(b) Acceptance by the claimant, his agent, or legal representative of an award, compromise, or settlement made under section 2672 or 2677 of Title 28, United States Code, is final and conclusive on the claimant, his agent or legal representative, and any other person on whose behalf or for whose benefit the claim has been presented, and constitutes a complete release of any claim against the United States and against any officer or employee of the Government whose act or omission gave rise to the claim, by reason of the same subject matter.
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