Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 2.djvu/172

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PUBLIC LAW 95-000—MMMM. DD, 1978

92 STAT. 1452

•f'

49 USC 11706. Ante, p. 1359.

Ante, p. 1359, 1365.

PUBLIC LAW 95-473—OCT. 17, 1978 paragraph. The findings and order of the Commission are competent evidence of the facts stated in them. Trial in a civil action brought in a district court of the United States under this paragraph is in the judicial district (A) in which the plaintiff resides, (B) in which the principal operating office of the carrier is located, (C) if a rail carrier, through which the railroad line of that carrier runs, or (D) if a water carrier, in which a port of call on a route operated by that carrier is located. In a civil action under this paragraph, the plaintiff is liable for only those costs that accrue on an appeal taken by the plaintiff. (2) All parties in whose favor the award was made may be joined as plaintiffs in a civil action brought in a district court of the United States under this subsection and all the carriers that are parties to the order awarding damages may be joined as defendants. Trial in the action is in the judicial district in which any one of the plaintiffs could bring the action against any one of the defendants. Process may be served on a defendant at its principal operating office when that defendant is not in the district in which the action is brought. A judgment ordering recovery may be made in favor of any of those plaintiffs against the defendant found to be liable to that plaintiff. (3) The district court shall award a reasonable attorney's fee as a part of the damages for which a carrier is found liable under this subsection. The district court shall tax and collect that fee as a part of the costs of the action. § 11706. Limitation on actions by and against common carriers (a) A common carrier providing transportation or service subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission under chapter 105 of this title must begin a civil action to recover charges for transportation or service provided by the carrier within 3 years after the claim accrues. (b) A person must begin a civil action to recover overcharges under section 11705(b)(1) of this title within 3 years after the claim accrues. If that claim is against a common carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission under subchapter I or III of chapter 105 of this title and an election to file a complaint with the Commission is made under section 11705(c)(1), the complaint must be filed within 3 years after the claim accrues. (c)(1) A person must file a complaint with the Commission to recover damages under section 11705(b)(2) of this title within 2 years after the claim accrues. (2) A person must begin a civil action to recover damages under section 11705(b)(3) of this title within 2 years after the claim accrues. (d) The 3-year period under subsection (b) of this section is extended for 6 months from the time written notice is given to the claimant by the carrier of disallowance of any part of the claim specified in the notice if a written claim is given to the carrier within that 3-year period. The 3-year period under subsection (b) of this section and the 2-year period under subsection (c)(1) of this section are each extended for 90 days from the time the carrier begins a civil action under subsection (a) of this section to recover charges related to the same transportation or service, or collects (without beginning a civil action under that subsection) the charge for that transportation or service if that action is begun or collection is made within the appropriate period. (e) A person must begin a civil action to enforce an order of the Commission against a carrier for the payment of money within one year after the date the order required the money to be paid.