United States Court of Federal Claims

The United States Court of Federal Claims, cited as Fed. Cl. or C.F.C., is a United States federal court that hears monetary claims against the United States government. Congress established it by statute in 1982 as the United States Claims Court and it took its present name in 1992. It is the successor to the trial division of the United States Court of Claims, which was created in 1855 so that private claims against the government could be decided. Its general jurisdiction covers claims for just compensation for the taking of private property, refunds of federal taxes, military and civilian pay, and breaches of government contracts, and it also hears bid protests from unsuccessful bidders on government contracts. The court sits without a jury and is located in the Howard T. Markey National Courts Building across from the White House in Washington, D.C., although cases may be heard elsewhere in the country.