U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. Court of Federal Claims is a specialized Article I federal court that hears monetary claims against the United States government. It serves as the primary forum for citizens and businesses to seek redress for breaches of contract, regulatory takings, tax refund disputes, and various other claims founded upon the Constitution, federal statutes, or contracts with the United States. The court's decisions are subject to review by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and, ultimately, the Supreme Court of the United States.

History and establishment

The court traces its origins to the Court of Claims Act of 1855, which created the United States Court of Claims to relieve pressure on the Congress from handling private bills for monetary claims. This original court was an executive branch agency until it was established as a legislative court under Article I in 1953. The modern court was reconstituted by the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982, which renamed it the United States Claims Court and restructured its relationship with appellate review. Following the Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992, it received its current name, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Key historical figures in its development include Chief Justice John Marshall, whose ruling in *Marbury v. Madison* established judicial review, and legislators like Senator Charles Sumner, who advocated for a dedicated claims tribunal.

Jurisdiction and powers

The court possesses broad jurisdiction over claims for money damages against the United States that are not sounding in tort. Its specific jurisdictional grants include claims based on the Constitution, acts of Congress, executive regulations, or contracts with the United States government, including implied-in-fact contracts. This encompasses disputes arising from federal contracts, Fifth Amendment takings of private property, patent and copyright infringement by the government under 28 U.S.C. § 1498, claims by Native American tribes, and various tax refund suits. The court also has jurisdiction over bid protests concerning federal procurement awards under the Tucker Act and the Contract Disputes Act of 1978. It cannot issue injunctive relief or order specific performance against the government, being limited to monetary judgments.

Judges and structure

The court is composed of sixteen judges appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate for terms of fifteen years. Judges may be reappointed and can be removed only for cause. The court's chief judge is designated by the President from among the judges who have served for at least one year. The current chief judge is Elaine D. Kaplan. The court sits primarily at the Howard T. Markey National Courts Building in Washington, D.C., but its judges may hold trials anywhere in the United States pursuant to statute. The court also employs special masters to assist in complex cases, such as those involving the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Procedures and notable cases

Proceedings are governed by the court's own Rules and generally follow the patterns of federal civil procedure, with trials conducted by a judge without a jury. Notable cases in its history include *United States v. Winstar Corp.*, which involved government liability for the Savings and loan crisis, and *Moda Health Plan, Inc. v. United States*, concerning payments under the Affordable Care Act. The court has also adjudicated major takings clause cases related to environmental regulations, significant contract disputes stemming from Department of Defense projects, and claims for just compensation under the Fifth Amendment. Its decisions on bid protests often involve major aerospace and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

Relationship to other courts

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims is an Article I tribunal, distinct from the Article III district courts. Its judgments are appealable exclusively to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a specialized appellate court that also hears appeals from the United States Court of International Trade and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This centralized review promotes uniformity in government contract and takings law. The court shares concurrent jurisdiction with U.S. district courts for certain claims, such as tax refund suits under the Internal Revenue Code and some Tucker Act claims under $10,000. Its decisions can be reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States via writ of certiorari. The court also interacts with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims on certain benefit-related matters.

Category:United States Court of Federal Claims Category:United States federal courts Category:1855 establishments in the United States