Also known as: U.S. Court of Federal Claims · Court of Federal Claims · US Court of Federal Claims · COFC · Fed. Cl.
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A specialized federal court established under Article I of the Constitution with original nationwide jurisdiction to render money judgments on claims against the United States founded on the Constitution, a federal statute, a federal regulation, an express or implied-in-fact contract, or other claims for damages not sounding in tort.
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Una Unger filed a civil action in the United States Court of Federal Claims seeking damages after a federal agency denied her company's banking license. At trial the agency attempted to introduce transcripts from an earlier administrative hearing conducted without formal evidentiary constraints. The court applied the Federal Rules of Evidence to determine admissibility of the transcripts.
Ulysses Ulrich sued the United States in federal district court alleging that a federal statute effected an unconstitutional taking of his coal-mining interests. The government moved to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction because the claim sought more than ten thousand dollars in compensation. The district court transferred the action to the United States Court of Federal Claims under the Tucker Act.
Usman Uddin acquired land subject to an old railroad right-of-way that the United States later claimed had reverted to federal ownership. He filed suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims seeking just compensation for an alleged taking. The court examined whether the original grant created an easement or a fee simple determinable.
Ursula Ureña managed timberland that suffered repeated seasonal flooding after the Army Corps of Engineers altered upstream water releases. She brought an action in the United States Court of Federal Claims asserting that the cumulative flooding constituted a temporary taking. The court assessed whether the invasions were sufficiently substantial to require compensation.
Uri Underwood refused to surrender a portion of his raisin crop to the government under a marketing order and faced penalties. He filed suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleging that the required surrender effected a physical taking of his property. The court evaluated whether the mandate constituted a per se taking under the Fifth Amendment.
The United States Court of Federal Claims possesses that exclusive jurisdiction under the Tucker Act. District courts lack authority to entertain such claims when the amount in controversy exceeds the statutory threshold. Transfer to the Court of Federal Claims is therefore required when the claim falls within its specialized monetary jurisdiction.
Yes. Federal Rule of Evidence 1101(a) expressly lists the Court of Federal Claims among the courts in which the rules govern. The rules therefore control admissibility determinations in ordinary civil damages actions filed there. Administrative proceedings that preceded the court action do not exempt evidence from the rules once it is offered in the Court of Federal Claims.
…answer to Eastern's complaint: Whether petitioner's takings claim was properly filed in Federal District Court rather than the United States Court of Federal Claims. See App. (CA1) 40. Although the Commissioner no longer challenges the Court's adjudication of this action, see Brief for Federal Respondent 38-39, n. 30, it is appropriate that we clarify…
…rest in interstate commerce. III The Government argues the Hornes may seek just compensation under the Tucker Act in the Court of Federal Claims
…Court dismissed without prejudice Brandt's separate counterclaim for just compensation. Brandt then filed a takings claim in the
…the parties and the courts below divided on the appropriate classification of temporary flooding. Reversing the judgment of the
…State of Vermont (the “State”), claiming an interest in the properties involved, intervened and, under the joinder rules of the Court of Federal Claims
Appeals from final judgments of the Court of Federal Claims are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. That court exercises exclusive appellate jurisdiction over such cases under 28 U.S.C. § 1295. Interlocutory orders granting injunctions are also immediately appealable to the Federal Circuit under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(c)(1).
Yes. Section 1292(c)(1) authorizes the Federal Circuit to hear appeals from interlocutory injunction orders in cases within its § 1295 jurisdiction. The appeal proceeds even though the underlying action remains pending in the trial court. A motion to dismiss the appeal as premature is therefore denied when the order grants injunctive relief.