CFR > Title 32 - National Defense > SUBTITLE A—Department of Defense > CHAPTER VII—DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (parts 800 to 989) > SUBCHAPTER D—CLAIMS AND LITIGATION (parts 842 to 845) > PART 842—ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS > SUBPART M—Claims Under the National Guard Claims Act (32 U.S.C. 715) (§842.100 to §842.114) > 842.102—Delegations of authority.

842.102—Delegations of authority.

This paragraph outlines the levels of authority authorized to settle claims brought under the National Guard Claims Act (32 U.S.C. 715 ).
(a) Settlement authority. (1) The Secretary of the Air Force has authority to:
(i) Settle a claim for $100,000 or less.
(ii) Settle a claim for more than $100,000, paying the first $100,000 and reporting the excess to the General Accounting Office for payment.
(iii) Deny a claim in any amount.
(2) The Judge Advocate General has delegated authority to settle a claim for $100,000 or less, and deny a claim in any amount.
(3) The following individuals have delegated authority to settle a claim for $25,000 or less, and deny a claim in any amount:
(i) The Deputy Judge Advocate General.
(ii) The Director of Civil Law.
(iii) The Chief, Deputy Chief, and Branch Chiefs, Claims and Tort Litigation Staff.
(4) The SJA of 9AF for CENTCOM and the SJAs of USAFE and PACAF have delegated authority to settle claims payable or deny claims filed for $25,000 or less.
(5) SJAs of single base GCMs, GCMs in PACAF and USAFE and each Air Force base, station or fixed installation have delegated authority to settle claims payable, and deny claims filed, for $15,000 or less.
(b) Redelegation of authority. A settlement authority may redelegate up to $25,000 of settlement authority to a subordinate judge advocate or civilian attorney. This redelegation must be in writing and can be for all claims or limited to a single claim.
(c) Appellate authority. Upon appeal a settlement authority has the same authority to settle a claim as that specified above. However, no appellate authority below the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force may deny an appeal of a claim it previously denied.
(d) Authority to reduce, withdraw, and restore settlement authority. Any superior settlement authority may reduce, withdraw, or restore delegated settlement authority.
(e) Settlement negotiations. A settlement authority may settle a claim filed in any amount for a sum within the delegated settlement authority regardless of the amount claimed. Unsettled claims in excess of the delegated settlement authority are sent to the individual with higher settlement authority. Unsuccessful negotiations at one level do not bind higher authority.
(f) Special exceptions. No authority below the level of HQ USAF/JACC may settle claims for:
(1) Legal malpractice.
(2) On the job personal injury or death of an employee of a government contractor or subcontractor.
(3) Assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution committed by an investigative or law enforcement officer.