28 U.S.C. § 2503 — Proceedings generally

Page 617 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 2503 § 139(a), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 250(2), 250a, and 262 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §§ 145, 156, 36 Stat. 1136, 1139; June 10, 1921, ch. 18, § 304, 42 Stat. 24; Aug. 30, 1935, ch. 831, § 13, 49 Stat. 1049; July 13, 1943, ch. 231, 57 Stat. 553). Section consolidates limitation provisions of sections 250(2), 250a, and 262 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Words ‘‘a person under legal disability or beyond the seas at the time the claim accrues’’ were substituted for ‘‘married women first accrued during marriage, of persons under the age of twenty-one years first accrued during minority, and of idiots, lunatics, insane persons, and persons beyond the seas at the time the claim ac- crued; entitled to the claim,’’. The revised language will cover all legal disabilities actually barring suit. For example, the particular reference to married women is archaic, and is eliminated by use of the gen- eral language substituted. Words ‘‘nor shall any of the said disabilities operate cumulatively’’ were omitted, in view of the elimination of the reference to specific disabilities. Also, persons under legal disability could not sue, and their suits should not be barred until they become able to sue. Similar sections of the U.S. Code do not contain any such provision. (For example, see section 502 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., incorporated in section 544 of this title.) The section was extended to include claims referred by the head of an executive department in conformity with section 2510 of this title. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2004—Pub. L. 108–271 substituted ‘‘Government Ac- countability Office’’ for ‘‘General Accounting Office’’ in last par. 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 ‘‘, or the claim is referred by the Senate or House of Representatives, or by the head of an executive department’’ in first par. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT Amendment 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 AMENDMENT Amendment 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. § 2502. Aliens’ privilege to sue (a) Citizens or subjects of any foreign govern- ment which accords to citizens of the United States the right to prosecute claims against their government in its courts may sue the United States in the United States Court of Fed- eral Claims if the subject matter of the suit is otherwise within such court’s jurisdiction. (b) See section 7422(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for exception with respect to suits involving internal revenue taxes. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 976; Pub. L. 89–713, § 3(b), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(a), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 261 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 155, 36 Stat. 1139). Changes were made in phraseology. Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 7422(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (b), is classified to section 7422(f) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. AMENDMENTS 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–572 substituted ‘‘United States Court of Federal Claims’’ for ‘‘United States Claims Court’’. 1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted ‘‘Internal Revenue Code of 1986’’ for ‘‘Internal Revenue Code of 1954’’. 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–164 substituted ‘‘United States Claims Court’’ for ‘‘Court of Claims’’. 1966—Pub. L. 89–713 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT Amendment 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 AMENDMENT Amendment 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. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1966 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 89–713 applicable to suits brought against officers, employees, or personal rep- resentatives instituted 90 days or more after Nov. 2, 1966, see section 3(d) of Pub. L. 89–713, set out as a note under section 7422 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. § 2503. Proceedings generally (a) Parties to any suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims may appear before a judge of that court in person or by attorney, produce evidence, and examine witnesses. (b) The proceedings of the Court of Federal Claims shall be in accordance with such rules of practice and procedure (other than the rules of evidence) as the Court of Federal Claims may prescribe and in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence. (c) The judges of the Court of Federal Claims shall fix times for trials, administer oaths or af- firmations, examine witnesses, receive evidence, and enter dispositive judgments. Hearings shall, if convenient, be held in the counties where the witnesses reside. (d) For the purpose of construing sections 1821, 1915, 1920, and 1927 of this title, the United States Court of Federal Claims shall be deemed to be a court of the United States. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 976; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, § 53, 68 Stat. 1246; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(b)(1), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, §§ 902(a), 909, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516, 4519.) Page 618 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 2504 HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 269, 276, and 278 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §§ 168, 170, 36 Stat. 1140; Feb. 24, 1925, ch. 301, § 1, 43 Stat. 964; June 23, 1930, ch. 573, § 2, 46 Stat. 799). Section consolidates provisions relating to pro- ceedings before commissioners and reporter-commis- sioners contained in sections 269, 276, and 278 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Provisions of section 269 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., relating to appointment and compensation of commis- sioners are incorporated in section 792 of this title. Words ‘‘including reporter-commissioners’’ after ‘‘commissioners’’ were inserted to clarify meaning and conform to Rule 54(a) of the Court of Claims author- izing oaths before reporter-commissioners. Changes were made in phraseology. SENATE REVISION AMENDMENT The Senate amended this section by inserting ‘‘and when directed by the court his recommendations for conclusions of law’’ following ‘‘commissioner’’ in the second paragraph. This amendment authorizes the Court to direct its commissioners to report rec- ommendations for conclusions of law as well as find- ings of fact in cases assigned to them. 80th Congress Senate Report No. 1559, Amendment No. 50. Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Federal Rules of Evidence, referred to in subsec. (b), are set out in the Appendix to this title. AMENDMENTS 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–572, § 902(a)(1), sub- stituted ‘‘United States Court of Federal Claims’’ for ‘‘United States Claims Court’’. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 102–572, § 902(a)(2), sub- stituted ‘‘Court of Federal Claims’’ for ‘‘Claims Court’’ wherever appearing. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–572, § 909, added subsec. (d). 1982—Pub. L. 97–164 substituted ‘‘Proceedings gen- erally’’ for ‘‘Proceedings before commissioners gen- erally’’ in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–164 substituted ‘‘Parties to any suit in the United States Claims Court may appear be- fore a judge of that court in person or by attorney, produce evidence, and examine witnesses’’ for ‘‘Parties to any suit in the Court of Claims may appear before a commissioner in person or by attorney, produce evi- dence and examine witnesses’’ and redesignated as sub- sec. (c) provisions that, in accordance with rules and orders of the court, commissioners would fix times for trials, administer oaths or affirmations to and examine witnesses, receive evidence and report findings of fact, that when directed by the court, commissioners would report their recommendations for conclusions of law in cases assigned to them, and that hearings would, if con- venient, be held in the counties where the witnesses re- sided. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–164 substituted ‘‘The pro- ceedings of the Claims Court shall be in accordance with such rules of practice and procedure (other than the rules of evidence) as the Claims Court may pre- scribe and in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evi- dence’’ for ‘‘The rules of the court shall provide for the filing in court of the commissioner’s report of facts and recommendations for conclusions of law, and for oppor- tunity for the parties to file exceptions thereto, and a hearing thereon before the court within a reasonable time’’ and struck out provision that this section did not prevent the court from passing upon all questions and findings regardless of whether exceptions were taken before a commissioner. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–164 redesignated provisions in second and third sentences of former subsec. (a) as (c) and substituted ‘‘The judges of the Claims Court’’ for ‘‘In accordance with rules and orders of the court, com- missioners’’ and ‘‘enter dispositive judgments’’ for ‘‘re- port findings of fact and, when directed by the court, their recommendations for conclusions of law in cases assigned to them’’. 1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, designated former first par. subsec. (a), and former second par. subsec. (b), and in- corporated in one place provisions relating to function of Commissioners. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT Amendment 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 AMENDMENT Amendment 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. § 2504. Plaintiff’s testimony The United States Court of Federal Claims may, at the instance of the Attorney General, order any plaintiff to appear, upon reasonable notice, before any judge of the court and be ex- amined on oath as to all matters pertaining to his claim. Such examination shall be reduced to writing by the judge, and shall be returned to and filed in the court, and may, at the discre- tion of the attorneys for the United States, be read and used as evidence on the trial. If any plaintiff, after such order is made and due and reasonable notice thereof is given to him, fails to appear, or refuses to testify or answer fully as to all material matters within his knowledge, the court may order that the case shall not be tried until he fully complies with such order. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 976; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(c), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 274 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 166, 36 Stat. 1140). Words ‘‘Attorney General’’ were substituted for ‘‘at- torney or solicitor appearing in behalf of the United States,’’ in view of section 309 of title 5, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees. 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’’, and ‘‘judge’’ for ‘‘commissioner’’ wherever appearing. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT Amendment 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 AMENDMENT Amendment 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.