Divisions
Civil Division
The Civil Division represents the United States in all civil actions brought to federal or state court in the Western District of Louisiana. The Civil Division represents the interests of the United States where the federal government is a party in defensive matters including employment disputes, medical malpractice, wrongful death, auto accidents, other tort actions, judicial review of agency decisions and cases challenging the constitutionality of federal statutes and regulatory schemes.
The Civil Division also includes the Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) program. The FLU is responsible for collecting defaulted federal loans, criminal fines and any monies due the United States as a result of judgments in favor of the federal government or as a result of negotiated settlement agreements.
Affirmative Civil Enforcement involves civil lawsuits filed by the United States:
- to recover money lost due to fraud and other misconduct against the government
- to impose civil penalties for violations of the nation's health,safety and economic welfare laws
- to use the federal Fraud Injunction Statute to stop on-going mail, wire or bank frauds and freeze ill-gotten gains derived from those frauds.
- seeking relief for violations of environmental laws