PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006
120 STAT. 1631
‘‘(2) COMPENSATION.—The Secretary may allow the company or group of companies reasonable compensation for services as the underwriting agent. The compensation may include an allowance for expenses reasonably incurred by the agent, but may not include any amount for soliciting or stimulating business. ‘‘(g) FEES FOR ARRANGING INSURANCE.—Except as provided in subsection (f)(2), the Secretary may not pay an insurance broker or other person acting in a similar intermediary capacity a fee or other consideration for participating in arranging insurance when the Secretary directly insures any of the risk. ‘‘(h) EMPLOYMENT OF MARINE INSURANCE EXPERTS.—The Secretary, without regard to the laws and regulations on the employment of Federal employees, may appoint and prescribe the duties of experts in marine insurance as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out this chapter. ‘‘(i) SERVICES OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.—With the consent of another agency of the United States Government, the Secretary may use information, services, facilities, officers, and employees of the agency in carrying out this chapter. ‘‘(j) VESSEL LOCATION REPORTING.—The Secretary may prescribe by regulation vessel location reporting requirements for a vessel insured under this chapter. ‘‘§ 53911. Civil actions for losses ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If there is a disagreement about a loss insured under this chapter, a civil action in admiralty may be brought against the United States in the district court of the United States for the district in which the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s agent resides. If the plaintiff has no residence in the United States, the action may be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the district court for any district in which the Attorney General agrees to accept service. Any person who may have an interest in the insurance may be made a party, either initially or on the motion of either party. ‘‘(b) EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.—A civil action against the United States under this section is exclusive of any other action by reason of the same subject matter against an officer, employee, or agent employed or retained by the Government under this chapter. ‘‘(c) PROCEDURE.—A civil action under this section shall be heard and determined under chapter 309 of this title. ‘‘(d) TOLLING OF LIMITATIONS PERIOD.—If a claim is filed with the Secretary of Transportation, the running of the limitations period for bringing a civil action is suspended until the Secretary denies the claim, and for 60 days thereafter. The Secretary is deemed to have denied the claim if the Secretary does not act on the claim within 6 months after the claim is filed, unless the Secretary for good cause shown agrees with the claimant on a different period for the Secretary to act on the claim. ‘‘(e) INTERPLEADER.—If the Secretary acknowledges the indebtedness of the Government under the insurance and there is a dispute about the persons entitled to receive payment, the Government may bring a civil action interpleading those persons. The action shall be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the district court for the district in which any of those persons resides. A person not residing or found in the district may be made a party by service in any
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