The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), Act of Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, title IV, 60 Stat. 842, codified at ), is a statute enacted by the United States Congress in 1946 permitting private parties to sue the United States in a federal court for most torts committed by persons acting on behalf of the U.S. Liability under the FTCA is limited to "circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred." . The law also exempts a number of intentional torts, although it exposes federal law enforcement officers to greater liability to torts such as assault, battery, and false imprisonment.

Because the U.S. government has absolute power to define the jurisdiction of its courts, and could withhold any jurisdiction to hear cases against the U.S., the FTCA constitutes a limited waiver of sovereign immunity.

See also

• List of United States federal legislation
• Texas City Disaster (1947) generated first failed test of the FTCA.

External links

• The 'Lectric Law Library's Legal Lexicon On the Federal Tort Claims Act
• Answers.com Federal Tort Claims Act
• Supreme Court Opinion, Dalehite v. U.S. (1953) 346 U.S. 15

United States federal legislation | 1946 in law