28 U.S.C. § 2507 — Calls and discovery

Page 619 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 2507 § 2505. Trial before judges Any judge of the United States Court of Fed- eral Claims may sit at any place within the United States to take evidence and enter judg- ment. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 976; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, § 54(a), (b), 68 Stat. 1246; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(d), 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., §§ 275 and 275a (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 167, 36 Stat. 1140; Feb. 24, 1925, ch. 301, § 2, 43 Stat. 965; June 23, 1930, ch. 573, § 1, 46 Stat. 799; Oct. 16, 1941, ch. 443, 55 Stat. 741). 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 ‘‘enter judg- ment’’ for ‘‘report findings’’. 1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, substituted ‘‘Trial before judges’’ for ‘‘Place of taking evidence’’ in section catchline and repealed second par. relating to taking of testimony. 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. § 2506. Interest of witness A witness in a suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims shall not be exempt or dis- qualified because he is a party to or interested in such suit. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 977; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(e), 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, § 186, 36 Stat. 1143; Feb. 5, 1912, ch. 28, 37 Stat. 61). A provision that a witness should not be disqualified by color was omitted as obsolete and unnecessary, since no such disqualification could be invoked in ab- sence of statutory authority. A provision that the United States could examine any plaintiff or party interested is covered by the word ‘‘exempt’’ in the revised section, and by section 2504 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’’. 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. § 2507. Calls and discovery (a) The United States Court of Federal Claims may call upon any department or agency of the United States or upon any party for any infor- mation or papers, not privileged, for purposes of discovery or for use as evidence. The head of any department or agency may refuse to comply with a call issued pursuant to this subsection when, in his opinion, compliance will be inju- rious to the public interest. (b) Without limitation on account of anything contained in subsection (a) of this section, the court may, in accordance with its rules, provide additional means for the discovery of any rel- evant facts, books, papers, documents or tan- gible things, not privileged. (c) The Court of Federal Claims may use all recorded and printed reports made by the com- mittees of the Senate or House of Representa- tives. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 977; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, § 55(a)–(c), 68 Stat. 1247; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(f), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 272 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 164, 36 Stat. 1140). Words ‘‘or agency’’ were added. (See reviser’s note under section 1345 of this title.) Changes were made in phraseology. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–572, § 902(a)(1), sub- stituted ‘‘United States Court of Federal Claims’’ for ‘‘United States Claims Court’’. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–572, § 902(a)(2), substituted ‘‘Court of Federal Claims’’ for ‘‘Claims Court’’. 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–164, § 139(f)(1), substituted ‘‘United States Claims Court’’ for ‘‘Court of Claims’’. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–164, § 139(f)(2), substituted ‘‘Claims Court’’ for ‘‘Court of Claims’’. 1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, substituted ‘‘Calls and dis- covery’’ for ‘‘Calls on departments for information’’ in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and added subsecs. (b) and (c). 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. Page 620 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 2508 § 2508. Counterclaim or set-off; registration of judgment Upon the trial of any suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims in which any setoff, counterclaim, claim for damages, or other de- mand is set up on the part of the United States against any plaintiff making claim against the United States in said court, the court shall hear and determine such claim or demand both for and against the United States and plaintiff. If upon the whole case it finds that the plain- tiff is indebted to the United States it shall render judgment to that effect, and such judg- ment shall be final and reviewable. The transcript of such judgment, filed in the clerk’s office of any district court, shall be en- tered upon the records and shall be enforceable as other judgments. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 977; July 28, 1953, ch. 253, § 10, 67 Stat. 227; Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, § 47(a), 68 Stat. 1243; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(g), 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., § 252 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 146, 36 Stat. 1137). 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 in first par. 1953—Act July 28, 1953, substituted ‘‘United States Court of Claims’’ for ‘‘Court of Claims’’ in first par., and substituted ‘‘shall be enforceable as other judg- ments’’ for ‘‘be a judgment of such district court and enforceable as such’’ in third 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. § 2509. Congressional reference cases (a) Whenever a bill, except a bill for a pension, is referred by either House of Congress to the chief judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims pursuant to section 1492 of this title, the chief judge shall designate a judge as hearing of- ficer for the case and a panel of three judges of the court to serve as a reviewing body. One member of the review panel shall be designated as presiding officer of the panel. (b) Proceedings in a congressional reference case shall be under rules and regulations pre- scribed for the purpose by the chief judge who is hereby authorized and directed to require the application of the pertinent rules of practice of the Court of Federal Claims insofar as feasible. Each hearing officer and each review panel shall have authority to do and perform any acts which may be necessary or proper for the effi- cient performance of their duties, including the power of subpena and the power to administer oaths and affirmations. None of the rules, rul- ings, findings, or conclusions authorized by this section shall be subject to judicial review. (c) The hearing officer to whom a congres- sional reference case is assigned by the chief judge shall proceed in accordance with the appli- cable rules to determine the facts, including facts relating to delay or laches, facts bearing upon the question whether the bar of any stat- ute of limitation should be removed, or facts claimed to excuse the claimant for not having resorted to any established legal remedy. He shall append to his findings of fact conclusions sufficient to inform Congress whether the de- mand is a legal or equitable claim or a gratuity, and the amount, if any, legally or equitably due from the United States to the claimant. (d) The findings and conclusions of the hearing officer shall be submitted by him, together with the record in the case, to the review panel for review by it pursuant to such rules as may be provided for the purpose, which shall include provision for submitting the report of the hear- ing officer to the parties for consideration, ex- ception, and argument before the panel. The panel, by majority vote, shall adopt or modify the findings or the conclusions of the hearing of- ficer. (e) The panel shall submit its report to the chief judge for transmission to the appropriate House of Congress. (f) Any act or failure to act or other conduct by a party, a witness, or an attorney which would call for the imposition of sanctions under the rules of practice of the Court of Federal Claims shall be noted by the panel or the hear- ing officer at the time of occurrence thereof and upon failure of the delinquent or offending party, witness, or attorney to make prompt compliance with the order of the panel or the hearing officer a full statement of the cir- cumstances shall be incorporated in the report of the panel. (g) The Court of Federal Claims is hereby au- thorized and directed, under such regulations as it may prescribe, to provide the facilities and services of the office of the clerk of the court for the filing, processing, hearing, and dispatch of congressional reference cases and to include within its annual appropriations the costs there- of and other costs of administration, including (but without limitation to the items herein list- ed) the salaries and traveling expenses of the judges serving as hearing officers and panel members, mailing and service of process, nec- essary physical facilities, equipment, and sup- plies, and personnel (including secretaries and law clerks). (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 977; Pub. L. 89–681, § 2, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 958; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 139(h), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 42; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 257 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 151, 36 Stat. 1138).