28 U.S.C. § 1606 — Extent of liability

Page 433 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 1607 (b) RESPONSIBILITY OF FOREIGN STATES.—A for- eign state shall not be immune from the juris- diction of the courts of the United States in any case in which money damages are sought against a foreign state for physical injury to person or property or death occurring in the United States and caused by— (1) an act of international terrorism in the United States; and (2) a tortious act or acts of the foreign state, or of any official, employee, or agent of that foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her office, employment, or agency, re- gardless where the tortious act or acts of the foreign state occurred. (c) CLAIMS BY NATIONALS OF THE UNITED STATES.—Notwithstanding section 2337(2) of title 18, a national of the United States may bring a claim against a foreign state in accord- ance with section 2333 of that title if the foreign state would not be immune under subsection (b). (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—A foreign state shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States under subsection (b) on the basis of an omission or a tortious act or acts that constitute mere negligence. (Added Pub. L. 114–222, § 3(a), Sept. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 853.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section applicable to any civil action pending on, or commenced on or after, Sept. 28, 2016, and arising out of an injury to a person, property, or business on or after Sept. 11, 2001, see section 7 of Pub. L. 114–222, set out as an Effective Date of 2016 Amendment note under section 2333 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure. STAY OF ACTIONS PENDING STATE NEGOTIATIONS Pub. L. 114–222, § 5, Sept. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 854, pro- vided that: ‘‘(a) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.—The courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the juris- diction of a court of the United States under section 1605B of title 28, United States Code, as added by sec- tion 3(a) of this Act. ‘‘(b) INTERVENTION.—The Attorney General may in- tervene in any action in which a foreign state is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of the United States under section 1605B of title 28, United States Code, as added by section 3(a) of this Act, for the purpose of seeking a stay of the civil action, in whole or in part. ‘‘(c) STAY.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A court of the United States may stay a proceeding against a foreign state if the Sec- retary of State certifies that the United States is en- gaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any other parties as to whom a stay of claims is sought. ‘‘(2) DURATION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A stay under this section may be granted for not more than 180 days. ‘‘(B) EXTENSION.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may petition the court for an extension of the stay for additional 180-day periods. ‘‘(ii) RECERTIFICATION.—A court shall grant an extension under clause (i) if the Secretary of State recertifies that the United States remains engaged in good faith discussions with the foreign state defendant concerning the resolution of the claims against the foreign state, or any other par- ties as to whom a stay of claims is sought.’’ § 1606. Extent of liability As to any claim for relief with respect to which a foreign state is not entitled to immu- nity under section 1605 or 1607 of this chapter, the foreign state shall be liable in the same manner and to the same extent as a private indi- vidual under like circumstances; but a foreign state except for an agency or instrumentality thereof shall not be liable for punitive damages; if, however, in any case wherein death was caused, the law of the place where the action or omission occurred provides, or has been con- strued to provide, for damages only punitive in nature, the foreign state shall be liable for ac- tual or compensatory damages measured by the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death which were incurred by the persons for whose benefit the action was brought. (Added Pub. L. 94–583, § 4(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2894; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(h) [title I, § 117(b)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–480, 2681–491; Pub. L. 106–386, div. C, § 2002(g)(2), for- merly § 2002(f)(2), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1543, re- numbered § 2002(g)(2), Pub. L. 107–297, title II, § 201(c)(3), Nov. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 2337.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2000—Pub. L. 106–386, § 2002(g)(2), formerly § 2002(f)(2), as renumbered by Pub. L. 107–297, which directed repeal of section 101(h) [title I, § 117(b)] of div. A of Pub. L. 105–277, was executed by striking out ‘‘, except any ac- tion under section 1605(a)(7) or 1610(f)’’ after ‘‘punitive damages’’, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 1998 Amendment note below. 1998—Pub. L. 105–277 inserted ‘‘, except any action under section 1605(a)(7) or 1610(f)’’ after ‘‘punitive dam- ages’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 105–277 applicable to any claim for which a foreign state is not immune under section 1605(a)(7) of this title arising before, on, or after Oct. 21, 1998, see section 101(h) [title I, § 117(c)] of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 1610 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective 90 days after Oct. 21, 1976, see sec- tion 8 of Pub. L. 94–583, set out as a note under section 1602 of this title. § 1607. Counterclaims In any action brought by a foreign state, or in which a foreign state intervenes, in a court of the United States or of a State, the foreign state shall not be accorded immunity with respect to any counterclaim— (a) for which a foreign state would not be en- titled to immunity under section 1605 or 1605A of this chapter had such claim been brought in a separate action against the foreign state; or (b) arising out of the transaction or occur- rence that is the subject matter of the claim of the foreign state; or (c) to the extent that the counterclaim does not seek relief exceeding in amount or dif- fering in kind from that sought by the foreign state.