[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR1261.315]

[Page 340-341]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 1261_PROCESSING OF MONETARY CLAIMS (GENERAL)--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart 1261.3_Claims Against NASA or Its Employees for Damage to or 
   Loss of Property or Personal Injury or Death_Accruing On or After 
                            January 18, 1967
 
Sec. 1261.315  Procedures for the handling of lawsuits against NASA 
employees arising within the scope of their office or employment.

    The following procedures shall be followed in the event that a civil 
action or proceeding is brought, in any court, against any employee of 
NASA (or against the estate) for injury or loss of property or personal 
injury or death, resulting from the NASA employee's activities while 
acting within the scope of office or employment:
    (a) After being served with process or pleadings in such an action 
or proceeding, the employee (or the executor(rix) or administrator(rix) 
of the estate) shall immediately deliver all such process and pleadings 
or an attested true copy thereof, together with a fully detailed report 
of the circumstances of the accident giving rise to the court action or 
proceeding, to the following officials:
    (1) The Assistant General Counsel for Litigation insofar as actions 
or proceedings against employees of NASA Headquarters are concerned; or
    (2) The Chief Counsel of the NASA Installation at which the employee 
is employed, insofar as actions against other than NASA Headquarters 
employees are concerned.
    (b) Upon receipt of such process and pleadings, the Assistant 
General Counsel for Litigation or the Chief Counsel

[[Page 341]]

of the NASA Installation receiving the same shall furnish to the U.S. 
Attorney for the district embracing the place where the action or 
proceeding is brought and, if appropriate, the Director, Torts Branch, 
Civil Division, Department of Justice, the following:
    (1) Copies of all such process and pleadings in the action or 
proceeding promptly upon receipt thereof; and
    (2) A report containing a statement of the circumstances of the 
incident giving rise to the action or proceeding, and all data bearing 
upon the question of whether the employee was acting within the scope of 
office or employment with NASA at the time of the incident, at the 
earliest possible date, or within such time as shall be fixed by the 
U.S. Attorney upon request.
    (c) The Assistant General Counsel for Litigation or a Chief Counsel 
acting pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section shall submit the 
following documents to the General Counsel, who is hereby designated to 
receive such documents on behalf of the Administrator:
    (1) Copies of all process and pleadings submitted to a U.S. Attorney 
in accordance with paragraph (b).
    (2) In addition, where the action or proceeding is for damages in 
excess of $25,000, or where (in the opinion of the Chief Counsel) such 
action or proceeding involves a new precedent, a new point of law, or a 
question of policy, copies of reports and all other papers submitted to 
the U.S. Attorney.