Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 1.djvu/1006

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 646 -JUNE 25, 1948 § 2501. Time for filing suit Every claim of which the Court of Claims has jurisdiction shall be barred unless the petition thereon is filed, or the claim is referred by the Senate or House of Representatives, or by the head of an executive department within six years after such claim first accrues. Ante, .941. Every claim under section 1497 of this title shall be barred unless the petition thereon is filed within two years after the termination of the river and harbor improvements operations on which the claim is based. A petition on the claim of a person under legal disability or beyond the seas at the time the claim accrues may be filed within three years after the disability ceases. A suit for the fees of an officer of the United States shall not be filed until his account for such fees has been finally acted upon, unless the General Accounting Office fails to act within six months after receiv- ing the account. § 2502. Aliens' privilege to sue Citizens or subjects of any foreign government which accords to citizens of the United States the right to prosecute claims against their government in its courts may sue the United States in the Court of Claims if the subject matter of the suit is otherwise within such court's Jurisdiction. § 2503. Proceedings before commissioners generally Parties to any suit in the Court of Claims may appear before a com- missioner in person or by attorney, produce evidence and examine witnesses. Commissioners, including reporter-commissioners taking testimony, may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses. Sub- poenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before commissioners may be issued by the court and compliance therewith shall be com- pelled under appropriate rules and orders of the court. Subpoenas for witnesses or for the production of testimony may issue out of the court by the clerk and shall be served by the United States marshal to whom they are directed. The rules of the court shall provide for a finding and report of facts by a commissioner, and when directed by the court his recom- mendations for conclusions of law to be filed in court with the testi- mony upon which the same is based, and for opportunity to file excep- tions thereto, and a hearing thereon within such reasonable time as the court's rules or order may prescribe. This section shall not prevent the court from passing upon all questions and findings regardless of whether exceptions were taken before a commissioner. § 2504. Plaintiff's testimony The Court of Claims may, at the instance of the Attorney General, order any plaintiff to appear, upon reasonable notice, before any commissioner of the court and be examined on oath as to all matters pertaining to his claim. Such examination shall be reduced to writing by the commissioner, and shall be returned to and filed in the court, and may, at the discretion of the attorneys for the United States, be read and used as evidence on the trial. If any plaintiff, after such order is made and due and reasonable notice thereof is given to him, fails to appear, or refuses to testify or answer fully as to all material matters within his knowledge, the court may order that the case shall not be tried until he fully complies with such order. § 2505. Place of taking evidence Any judge of the Court of Claims may sit at any place within the United States to take evidence and report findings [62 STAT.

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