Right to Redress Act

Summary

Permits people suing the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act for money damages arising from negligent or wrongful acts or omissions by federal law enforcement officers to request a jury trial in court. It defines who counts as a “Federal law enforcement officer,” preserves other FTCA rules that apply to such claims, carves these officer-related claims out of certain FTCA exceptions, and applies the change to claims arising before, on, or after enactment while not reviving time‑barred or finally adjudicated claims. The change increases the ability of claimants to obtain jury trials in suits tied to federal law enforcement conduct, affects federal agencies that defend those suits, and clarifies retroactivity and scope without creating new appropriations.

• Allows jury trials in FTCA money‑damage suits when claims arise from acts or omissions of defined federal law enforcement officers and the claimant requests a jury.
• Defines "Federal law enforcement officer" to include any U.S. officer, agent, or employee authorized to engage in or supervise prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of federal law violations.
• Preserves other FTCA provisions, including the waiver of sovereign immunity under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), for these claims.
• Carves law‑enforcement officer acts out of certain FTCA limitation/litigation exception provisions so the chapter governs those claims.
• Makes a technical conforming change to 28 U.S.C. § 2402.
• Applies to claims arising before, on, or after enactment but does not revive time‑barred claims or reopen finally adjudicated claims.
• Does not create new appropriations; it changes litigation procedure and potential liability exposure, not funding.
• Affects claimants, federal law enforcement officers, federal agencies that defend suits, federal courts, and potentially taxpayers.