22 U.S.C. § 3777 — Investigation of accident or injury giving

Page 1409 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 3778 ject to subsection (b) of this section, the Commission, by’’ and ‘‘Such amounts may be paid only out of money appropriated or allotted for the maintenance and oper- ation of the Panama Canal’’ for ‘‘Such amounts shall be payable promptly out of any moneys appropriated or allotted for the maintenance and operation of the Pan- ama Canal’’, and struck out subsec. (b) which provided that the Commission could not adjust and pay any claim for damages for injuries arising by reason of the presence of the vessel in the Panama Canal or adjacent waters outside the locks where the amount of the claim exceeded $120,000 but had to submit the claim to the Congress in a special report containing the material facts and the recommendation of the Commission thereon. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1985 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99–209 applicable to any claim arising on or after Oct. 1, 1979, see section 7(a) of Pub. L. 99–209, set out as a note under section 3771 of this title. § 3776. Actions on claims Subject to section 3779(b) of this title, a claim- ant for damages pursuant to section 3771(a) or 3772 of this title who considers himself aggrieved by the findings, determination, or award of the Commission in reference to his claim may bring an action on the claim against the Commission in the United States District Court for the East- ern District of Louisiana. Subject to the provi- sions of this part and of applicable regulations issued pursuant to section 3811 of this title rel- ative to navigation of the Panama Canal and ad- jacent waters, such actions shall proceed and be heard by the court without a jury according to the principles of law and rules of practice ob- taining generally in like cases between a private party and a department or agency of the United States. Any judgment obtained against the Commission in an action under this subpart may be paid only out of money allotted for the main- tenance and operation of the Panama Canal. An action for damages cognizable under this section shall not otherwise lie against the United States or the Commission, nor in any other court, than as provided in this section; nor may it lie against any officer or employee of the United States or of the Commission. Any action on a claim under this section shall be barred unless the action is brought within 180 days after the date on which the Commission mails to the claimant written notification of the Commis- sion’s final determination with respect to the claim or by May 17, 1998, whichever is later. At- torneys appointed by the Commission shall rep- resent the Commission in any action arising under this subpart. (Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1416, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 487; Pub. L. 99–209, § 5, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1717; Pub. L. 104–106, div. C, title XXXV, § 3529(6), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXV, § 3543(b), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2072; Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXV, §§ 3509(a)(3), 3512(a)(5), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2270, 2271.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1998—Pub. L. 105–261 substituted ‘‘Subject to section 3779(b) of this title, a claimant’’ for ‘‘A claimant’’ in first sentence and ‘‘by May 17, 1998’’ for ‘‘November 18, 1997’’. 1997—Pub. L. 105–85 substituted ‘‘180 days’’ for ‘‘one year’’ and ‘‘claim or November 18, 1997,’’ for ‘‘claim, or within one year after December 23, 1985,’’. 1996—Pub. L. 104–106 struck out ‘‘appropriated or’’ after ‘‘out of money’’ in third sentence. 1985—Pub. L. 99–209 substituted ‘‘section 3771(a) or 3772 of this title’’ for ‘‘section 3771 of this title’’, sub- stituted ‘‘may be paid only out out money’’ for ‘‘shall be paid out of any moneys’’, and inserted provisions that any action on a claim under this section shall be barred unless the action is brought within one year after the date on which the Commission mails to the claimant written notification of the Commission’s final determination with respect to the claim, or within one year after Dec. 23, 1985, whichever is later, and that at- torneys appointed by the Commission shall represent the Commission in any action arising under this sub- part. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1985 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99–209 applicable to any claim arising on or after Oct. 1, 1979, see section 7(a) of Pub. L. 99–209, set out as a note under section 3771 of this title. § 3777. Investigation of accident or injury giving rise to claim Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim may not be considered under this subpart, or an action for damages lie thereon, unless, prior to the departure from the Panama Canal of the vessel involved— (1) an investigation of the accident or injury giving rise to the claim has been completed, which shall include a hearing by the Board of Local Inspectors of the Commission; and (2) the basis for the claim has been laid be- fore the Commission. (Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1417, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 487; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, § 3544, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2867.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1996—Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–201 amended par. (1) gen- erally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: ‘‘an investigation by the competent authorities of the accident or injury giving rise to the claim has been completed; and’’. § 3778. Board of local inspectors (a) The President shall provide for the estab- lishment of a Board of Local Inspectors of the Panama Canal Commission which shall perform, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President— (1) the investigations required by section 3777 of this title; and (2) such other duties with respect to marine matters as may be assigned by the President. (b) In conducting any investigation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Board of Local Inspectors established pursuant to such subsection may summon witnesses, administer oaths, and require the production of books and papers necessary for such investigation. (Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1418, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 487.)