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Court of Claims

The Court of Federal Claims is a federal court which hears non monetary claims against the United States government.

The Court of Claims has jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim against the United States.[i] Power to render judgment upon any claim against the federal goverment may be granted to the Court of Claims by an act of Congress.  Also, Congress has granted jurisdiction in maritime proceedings to the Court of Claims.

Actions against the United States based upon contracts may be brought in either the District Courts or the Court of Claims.  However, if the amount involved in such actions exceeds $ 10,000, then the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction.[ii] In Amell v. United States, 384 U.S. 158 (U.S. 1966), the court held that the Court of Claims has jurisdiction over contractual claims against the U.S.  Further, any claim under the ship construction contract should be prosecuted in the Court of Claims.[iii]

[i] Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co., 467 U.S. 986, 1017 (U.S. 1984)

[ii] United States v. Tacoma Oriental S.S. Co., 86 F.2d 363 (9th Cir. Wash. 1936)

[iii] The S.S. Samovar, 72 F. Supp. 574, 582 (D. Cal. 1947)


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