§ 963. Courts defined As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the words "court" and "courts" include the Supreme Court of the United States and the courts enumerated in section 610 of this title. 89. District Courts; Removal of Cases from State Courts. 1441 § 1252. Direct appeals from decisions invalidating Any party may appeal to the Supreme Court from an interlocutory or final judgment, decree or order of any court of the United States, the District Court for the Territory of Alaska, the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone and the District Court of the Virgin Islands and any court of record of Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, holding an Act of Congress unconstitutional in any civil action, suit, or proceeding to which the United States or any of its agencies, or any officer or employee thereof, as such officer or employee, is a party. A party who has received notice of appeal under this section shall take any subsequent appeal or cross appeal to the Supreme Court. All appeals or cross appeals taken to other courts prior to such notice shall be treated as taken directly to the Supreme Court. § 1225. Court of Claims; certiorari; certified questions Cases in the Court of Claims may be reviewed by the Supreme Court by the following methods: (1) By writ of certiorari granted on petition of the United States or the claimant; (2) By certification of any question of law by the Court of Claims in any case as to which instructions are desired, and upon such certification the Supreme Court may give binding instructions on such question. CHAPTER 85. DISTRICT COURTS; JURISDICTION § 1346. United States as defendant (a) The district courts shall have original jurisdiction, concurrent with the Court of Claims, of: (1) Any civil action against the United States for the recovery of any internal-revenue tax alleged to have been erroneously or illegally assessed or collected, or any penalty claimed to have been collected without authority or any sum alleged to have been excessive or in any manner wrongfully collected under the internal-revenue laws; even if the claim exceeds $10,000 if the collector of internal revenue by whom such tax, penalty or sum was collected is dead or is not in office as collector of internal revenue when such action is commenced; (2) Any other civil action or claim against the United States, not exceeding $10,000 in amount, founded either upon the Constitution, or any Act of Congress, or any regulation of an executive department, or upon any express or implied contract with the United States, or for liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort. (b) Subject to the provisions of chapter 173 of this title, the district courts, together with the District Court for the Territory of Alaska, the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone and the District Court of the Virgin Islands, shall have exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions on claims against the United States, for money damages, for injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the government while acting within the scope of his office or employment, under 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. (c) The jurisdiction conferred by this section includes jurisdiction of any set-off, counterclaim, or other claim or demand whatever on the part of the United States against any plaintiff commencing an action under this section. (d) The district courts shall not have jurisdiction under this section of: (1) Any civil action or claim for a pension; (2) Any civil action to recover fees, salary, or compensation for official services of officers of the United States. CHAPTER 87. DISTRICT COURTS; VENUE § 1402. United States as defendant (a) Any civil action against the United States under subsection (a) of section 1346 of this title may be prosecuted only in the judicial district where the plaintiff resides. (b) Any civil action on a tort claim against the United States under subsection (b) of section 1346 of this title may be prosecuted only in the judicial district where the plaintiff resides or wherein the act or omission complained of occurred. § 1406. Cure of waiver of defects (a) The district court of a district in which is filed a case laying venue in the wrong division or district shall transfer such case to any district or division in which it could have been brought. (b) Nothing in this chapter shall impair the jurisdiction of a district court of any matter involving a party who does not interpose timely and sufficient objection to the venue. CHAPTER 91. COURT OF CLAIMS Sec. 1491. Claims against United States generally. 1492. Congressional reference cases. 1493. Departmental reference cases. 1494. Accounts of officers, agents or contractors. 1495. Damages for injust conviction and imprisonment; claim against United States. 1496. Disbursing officers' claims. 1497. Oyster growers' damages from dredging operations. 1498. Patent cases. 1499. Penalties imposed against contractors under eight hour law. 1500. Pendency of claims in other courts. 1501. Pensions. 1502. Treaty cases. 1503. Set-offs. 1504. Tort claims. § 1491. Claims against United States generally The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim against the United States: (1) Founded upon the Constitution; or (2) Founded upon any Act of Congress; or (3) Founded upon any regulation of an executive department; or (4) Founded upon any express or implied contract with the United States; or (5) For liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort. § 1492. Congressional reference cases The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to report to either House of Congress on any bill referred to the court by such House, except a bill for a pension, and to render judgment if the claim against the United States represented by the referred bill is one over which the court has jurisdiction under other Acts of Congress. § 1493. Departmental reference cases The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to report to the head of any executive department on any claim or matter involving controverted questions of law or fact and referred by him to such court, and to render judgment if the claim or matter referred is one over which the court has jurisdiction under other Acts of Congress. § 1494. Accounts of officers, agents or contractors The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to determine the amount, if any, due the United States by reason of any unsettled account of any officer or agent of, or contractor with, the United States, or a guarantor, surety or personal representative of any such officer, agent or contractor, where: (1) claimant or the person he represents has applied to the proper department of the Government for settlement of the account; (2) three years have elapsed from the date of such application without settlement; and (3) no suit upon the same has been brought by the United States. § 1495. Damages for unjust conviction and imprisonment; claim against United States The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim for damages by any person unjustly convicted of an offense against the United States and imprisoned. § 1496. Disbursing officers' claims The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim by a disbursing officer of the United States or by his administrator or executor for relief from responsibility for loss, in line of duty, of Government funds, vouchers, records or other papers in his charge. § 1497. Oyster growers, damages from dredging operations The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim for damages to oyster growers on private or leased lands or bottoms arising from dredging operations or use of other machinery and equipment in making river and harbor improvements authorized by Act of Congress. § 1498. Patent cases The Court of Claims shall have jurisdiction to render judgment upon any claim against the United States for the re |