Levin v. U.S.

The Gonzalez Act, makes the remedy against the United States under the FTCA preclusive of any suit against armed forces medical personnel. 10 U. S. C. §1089(a). The Act also provides that, “[f]or purposes of this section,” the inten­tional tort exception to the FTCA “shall not apply to any cause of ac­tion arising out of a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the per­formance of medical . . . functions.” §1089(e): the Gonzalez Act direction in §1089(e) abrogates the FTCA’s in­tentional tort exception and therefore permits Levin’s suit against the United States alleging medical battery by a Navy doctor acting within the scope of his employment; the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) waives the Government’s sover­eign immunity from tort suits, 28 U. S. C. §1346(b)(1), but excepts from the waiver certain intentional torts, including battery, §2680(h). The FTCA, as originally enacted, afforded tort victims a remedy against the United States, but did not preclude suit against the al­leged tortfeasor as sole or joint defendant. Several agency-specific statutes postdating the FTCA, however, immunized certain federal employees from personal liability for torts committed in the course of their official duties. One such statute, the Gonzalez Act, makes the remedy against the United States under the FTCA preclusive of any suit against armed forces medical personnel. 10 U. S. C. §1089(a). The Act also provides that, “[f]or purposes of this section,” the inten­tional tort exception to the FTCA “shall not apply to any cause of ac­tion arising out of a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the per­formance of medical . . . functions.” §1089(e). Congress subsequently enacted comprehensive legislation, the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act (Liability Reform Act), which makes the FTCA’s remedy against the United States exclusive for torts committed by federal employees acting within the scope of their employment, 28 U. S. C. §2679(b)(1). Under the Liability Reform Act, federal employees are shielded without regard to agency affiliation or line of work; the Court held that §2679(b)(1) grants all federal employees, including medical per­sonnel, immunity for acts within the scope of their employment, even when the FTCA provides no remedy against the United States. 499 U. S., at 166 (U.S. S. Ct., 04.03.13, Levin v. U.S., J. Ginsburg, unanimous).

Action en responsabilité civile à l'encontre du Gouvernement fédéral U.S. : certaines lois fédérales prévoient aujourd'hui que seules les actions en responsabilité civile contre le Gouvernement fédéral sont admises, à l'exclusion d'une action directe ou concurrente contre l'employé public qui aurait commis la faute. Par la suite, le Congrès fédéral a adopté le " Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act (Liability Reform Act)", selon lequel seule subsiste l'action contre le Gouvernement fédéral au sens du FTCA pour obtenir réparation du fait d'actes illicites, même intentionnels, commis par des employés publics agissant dans les limites de leurs fonctions. Les employés publics sont immunisés même lorsque le FTCA ne prévoit aucun remède à l'encontre du gouvernement fédéral.