Welcome

Welcome to the General Litigation Division ("GLD"). If, after exploring this site, you believe that we may be of assistance, please feel free to contact us. Please note that while this site is intended to be informative for all visitors, we provide legal advice and services only to personnel of the Department of Commerce or other federal agencies on matters of official business.

Office Description

The General Litigation Division ("GLD") of the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Finance and Litigation is headed by Acting Chief Gene Del Tredici. The GLD handles a wide variety of legal matters. One area of activity is tort law; the GLD provides legal advice to the Department on liability issues including claims arising under the Federal Tort Claims Act and admiralty law, investigates and processes tort claims, and assists the Department of Justice in the defense of tort litigation involving the Department. The GLD also provides advice, legal support, and litigation services to bureaus of the Department in matters of commercial law and environmental matters. In the commercial law arena, GLD attorneys counsel clients as to their rights and represent their interests under loan and guaranteed loan programs. Activities include loan and bond restructuring, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and collections. The GLD also advises DOC bureaus of their rights and responsibilities under the Debt Collection Act, and the Program Fraud and Civil Remedies Act. In the area of environmental law, the GLD defends DOC bureaus against claims made under various environmental statutes, including the Comprehensive, Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) and the Toxic Substances Control Act. GLD also administers the Department’s “Touhy” regulations, which govern the production of documents and the testimony of Department employees in litigation not involving the Department.