# Justice Manual § 4-3.110: Delegations of the Attorney General's Authority to Compromise and Close

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.110

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 4-3.110
- **Heading:** Delegations of the Attorney General's Authority to Compromise and Close
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 4: Civil / 4-3.000 - Compromising And Closing / Justice Manual § 4-3.110

## Text

The Attorney General has delegated settlement authority in civil cases to the several Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) with respect to matters assigned to their respective Divisions, and certain other officials. The controlling regulations, found at 28 C.F.R. § 0.160,
et seq.,
should be consulted before authorization is sought to compromise or close a case, but it may be helpful to note that generally:

An AAG can accept offers in  compromise of affirmative claims when the difference between the gross amount of the original claim and the proposed settlement does not exceed $10 million or 15% of the original claim, whichever is greater, 28 C.F.R. §§ 0.160(a)(1);
An AAG can accept offers in compromise of affirmative  claims where a qualified expert has determined that the amount is likely the maximum that the offeror has the ability to pay, 28 C.F.R. § 0.160(a)(2);
An AAG can compromise (or settle administratively) a defense claim when the principal amount of the proposed settlement does not exceed $4 million, 28 C.F.R. § 0.160(a)(3).
An AAG can compromise all nonmonetary cases, 28 C.F.R. § 0.160(a)(4);
An AAG can reject most offers, 28 C.F.R. § 0.162;
An AAG can close (other than by compromise or by entry of judgment) an affirmative claim when the gross amount of the original claim does not exceed $10 million, 28 C.F.R. §§ 0.164, 0.169;
The Solicitor General must approve the acceptance, recommendation, or rejection of any compromise in all Supreme Court cases and in many other appellate matters, 28 C.F.R. § 0.163;
The compromising or closing of cases beyond these limits must be approved by the Deputy Attorney General, or Associate Attorney General, as appropriate, 28 C.F.R. §§ 0.160(c), 0.161, 0.164(b), 0.165, 0.167; and
The Deputy Attorney General or Associate Attorney General, as appropriate, is further specifically authorized to exercise the settlement authority of the Attorney General as to all affirmative and defensive civil claims, 28 C.F.R. § 0.161(b).

[updated April 2018]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 4-3.100 Pursuit of Claims Against Individuals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.110 Delegations of the Attorney General's Authority to Compromise and Close](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.110.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.120 General Redelegation of the Attorney General's Authority to Compromise and Close](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.120.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.200 Bases for the Compromising or Closing of Claims Involving the United States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.210 Compromising Claims Against a Going Business Concern](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.210.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.220 Claims in Conjunction With Bankruptcy Code Proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.220.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.230 Bases for Closing Claims Arising Out of Judgments in Favor of the United States by Returning Those Claims to the Client Agencies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.230.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.300 Memoranda by United States Attorney Explaining the Compromising or Closing of Claims Within the United States Attorney's Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.320 Memoranda Containing the United States Attorney's Recommendations for the Compromising or Closing of Claims Beyond His/Her Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.320.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.400 Consummation of Compromise of Claims of the United States—Generally](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.410 Prohibition on Confidential Settlements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.410.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.412 Dismissal Where Suit Has Been Filed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.412.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.420 Consummation of Compromise of Judgments in Favor of the United States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.420.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-3.430 Payment of Compromises—Compromise Payable by Client Agency or Insurer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.430.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.110. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.