# 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

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-3.230

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 4-3.230
- **Heading:** Bases for Closing Claims Arising Out of Judgments in Favor of the United States by Returning Those Claims to the Client Agencies
- **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 § 4-3.230

## Text

Claims arising out of judgments in favor of the United States that cannot be permanently closed as uncollectible (
see
JM 4-3.200
)  may be returned to the referring federal agency whenever:

All other claims arising out of the same transaction have also been reduced to judgment;
All monies collectible upon the claim(s) are payable to a single referring federal agency; and
The claim is uncollectible except by installment payments that debtors agree to make to the referring agency, or the claim can be enforced by other means, but such enforcement is forborne in consideration of the promise for installment payments; or the claim is presently uncollectible but has future collection potential, and the United States Attorney is not in a better position than the agency to keep the matter under surveillance.

Return is also subject to the following caveats:

The United States Attorney should be satisfied that, as a practical matter, the transfer will not adversely affect the chances of collection or the amount that will be collected.
The agency must be willing to accept the transfer and must understand that it is not authorized to undertake final settlement, reduction, or release of any unpaid balance without the specific authorization of the Department of Justice, and all judicial proceedings to enforce or release judgments are to be conducted by the United States Attorney; and
The United States Attorney should consider it unlikely that the claim will be returned to him/her for further proceedings.

[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_S4-3.230. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.