PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 393-AUG. 4 , 1949
by criminal acts of registered or insured mail while in the possession
of Coast Guard authorities, claims for damage to or loss or destruction
of personal property bailed to the Government, and claims for damages
to real property incident to the use and occupancy thereof, whether
under a lease, express or implied, or otherwise. The provisions of
this section shall not apply to claims for personal injury or death of
military personnel or civilian employees of the Coast Guard if such
injury or death occurs incident to their services. The provisions of
this section shall not apply where the damage to or loss or destruction
of property, or the personal injury or death, has been caused in whole
or in part by any negligence or wrongful act on the part of the claimant
his agent, or employee. The amount allowed on account of personal
injury or death shall be limited to reasonable medical, hospital, and
burial expenses actually incurred, except that no payment shall be
made to any claimant in reimbursement for medical or hospital services
furnished at the expense of the United States nor, in the case of
burial, of such portion of the expense thereof as may be otherwise
paid by the United States.
Time limitation.
(b) No claim shall be settled under this section unless presented in
writing within one year after the occurrence of the accident or incident
out of which such claim arises unless it occurs in time of war, or war
intervenes within one year after its ocurrence, in which event any
claim may on good cause shown be presented within one year after
the war is terminated.
(c) Any such settlement made by the Secretary, or his designee,
under the authority of this section and such regulations as he may
prescribe hereunder, shall be final and conclusive for all purposes, not-
withstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary.
(d) Such appropriations as may be required for the settlement of
claims under the provisions of this section are authorized. Coast
Guard appropriations shall be available for the settlement of claims
by the Secretary or his designee under the provisions of this section.
§ 646. Claims for damages occasioned by vessels
(a) The Secretary of the Treasury may consider, ascertain, adjust,
determine, compromise, or settle claims for damages caused by vessels
in the Coast Guard service, and for compensation for towage and sal-
vage services, including contract salvage, rendered to such vessels, and
pay the amount of any claim so determined, compromised, or settled,
and upon acceptance of such payment by the claimant, and not until
then, such determination, settlement, or compromise of such claim shall
be final and conclusive for all purposes, any law to the contrary not-
withstanding. This section, as respects the determination, compromise,
settlement, and payment of claims, shall be supplementary to, and not
in lieu of, all other provisions of law authorizing consideration, adjust-
ment, determination, settlement, and payment of claims. No claim in
excess of $3,000, which accrued prior to September 8,1939, shall be con-
sidered hereunder. All payments of claims made under this section
shall be paid out of Coast Guard appropriations. The payment of any
claim on which a net amount exceeding $25,000 is determined to be due
from the United States, or which is compromised or settled at a net
amount exceeding $25,000 payable by the United States, is not author-
ized by this section, and all claims determined, compromised, or settled
hereunder at a net amount exceeding $25,000 payable by the United
States shall be certified by the Secretary of the Treasury to the
Congress.
Reports to Congrss.
(br On payment of any claim determined, compromised, or settled
under this section at a net amount exceeding $3,000, but not exceeding
$25,000, payable by the United States, the Secretary of the Treasury
548
[63 STAT.
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