United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao_comptroller_general legislative 2016-06-23 U.S. Government Publishing Office 1995-12-21 monographic deposited born digital 8 p. GA 1.13:B-259065 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-B-259065 P0b002ee18fd438e8 f:259065 DGPO 2016-06-23 2016-06-23 GAOREPORTS-B-259065 machine generated eng fdlp COMPTROLLERDECISION GAOREPORTS-B-259065 B-259065 Comptroller General Decision

1. As a general principle, the Judgment Fund, 31 U.S.C. 1304, is available to pay monetary awards arising from the government's failure to return seized property or to return such property in good condition. The fact that a court orders an award in response to a request for the exercise of equitable authority does not render the Judgment Fund unavailable to cover the award.<p/>2. This Office will certify for payment from the Judgment Fund, 31 U.S.C. 1304, litigative awards under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. ch. 171, that arise from seizures of property by law enforcement officials, as described in 28 U.S.C. 2680(c), and are referred by the Department of Justice. <p/>3. Litigative awards against the United States for the return of cash (or other property converted to cash) credited to the Justice Department's Asset Forfeiture Fund, 28 U.S.C. 524, must be paid from that fund, not from the Judgment Fund, 32 U.S.C. 1304. ______________________________________________________________________ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-B-259065/html/GAOREPORTS-B-259065.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-B-259065/pdf/GAOREPORTS-B-259065.pdf GAO/B-259065 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-B-259065 Comptroller General Decision GAO/B-259065; Judgment Fund and Law Enforcement; Title 5 Section 702 Title 5 Section 704 5 U.S.C. 702 5 U.S.C. 704 Title 28 Section 1346(a) Title 28 Section 1346(b) Title 28 Section 1491 Title 28 Section 1491(a)(2) Title 28 Section 2414 Title 28 Section 2465 Title 28 Section 2517 Title 28 Section 2672 Title 28 Section 2677 Title 28 Section 2680(c) Title 28 Section 524 Title 28 Chapter 171 28 U.S.C. 1346(a) 28 U.S.C. 1346(b) 28 U.S.C. 1491 28 U.S.C. 1491(a)(2) 28 U.S.C. 2414 28 U.S.C. 2465 28 U.S.C. 2517 28 U.S.C. 2672 28 U.S.C. 2677 28 U.S.C. 2680(c) 28 U.S.C. 524 28 U.S.C. Chapter 171 Title 31 Section 1304 Title 31 Section 1304(a) Title 31 Section 1304(a)(2)(A) Title 31 Section 3302(b) 31 U.S.C. 1304 31 U.S.C. 1304(a) 31 U.S.C. 1304(a)(2)(A) 31 U.S.C. 3302(b) Title 32 Section 1304 32 U.S.C. 1304