The Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico represents the United States and its departments and agencies in a broad array of defensive and affirmative civil lawsuits arising primarily in the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Puerto Rico.
The types of defensive cases handled by the Civil Division include allegations of discrimination; suits under the Federal Tort Claims Act; challenges to agency actions and government procurement under the Administrative Procedure Act; requests for the amendment of records under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act; and the defense of government officials sued in their individual capacities. The Division also brings civil affirmative actions to recover money owed the United States Government by those who submit false claims or commit fraud against the government, as well as actions to collect criminal and administrative fines, unpaid student or veteran loans and other debts owed to the United States.
The Civil Division of this Office has an active Affirmative Civil Enforcement ("ACE") program, through which we address fraud, waste and abuse in a wide variety of government activities. Through the ACE program, the United States uses civil statutes to recover money lost due to fraud or other misconduct and impose civil penalties for violations of environmental, health and safety laws. We have developed strong working relations with the Inspectors General of all major federal agencies to investigate and prosecute civil fraud.
Financial Litigation Unit
The Financial Litigation Unit (“FLU”) consists of one FLU AUSA in charge of the unit and supervisor of three Paralegal Specialists. FLU handles the following types of cases; all 2410 cases; collection of criminal judgments (sma, fines and restitutions); and collection of all civil judgments in favor of USA (student loans, Treasury cases, bond forfeitures and EPA fines).