Civil Division
Overview
The Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana consists of 22 dedicated attorneys and support personnel who diligently represent the interests of the federal government in all civil litigation involving the United States, its departments and agencies and federal employees in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Civil cases represent a significant portion of the caseload of the office of the United States Attorney and cover a broad and diverse subject matter.
All lawsuits filed against the government must be defended. The Civil Division defends the interests of the federal government in the lawsuits filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana. These cases include tort cases filed against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), claims against employees of the United States alleging constitutional violations, discrimination cases based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability or age brought by federal employees, challenges to decisions by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to exclude, deport or detain aliens, Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act cases, appeals of denials of Social Security disability benefits, contract actions, and tax cases. The Civil Division also initiates litigation to enforce various federal statutes, including the False Claims Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act. In addition, the Civil Division appears on behalf of the United States in bankruptcy court. The Financial Litigation Unit, which collects civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, is an integral part of the Civil Division.
The U.S. Attorney's Office is not authorized to provide legal assistance to private citizens or to represent them.