(a) The head of the Department or Agency of the United States asserting such claim, or his or her designee, may:

(1) Accept the full amount of a claim and execute a release therefor;

(2) Compromise or settle and execute a release of any claim, not in excess of $300,000, which the United States has for the reasonable value of such care and treatment; or

(3) Waive and in this connection release any claim, not in excess of $300,000, in whole or in part, either for the convenience of the Government, or if the head of the Department or Agency, or his or her designee, determines that collection would result in undue hardship upon the person who suffered the injury or disease resulting in the care and treatment described in §43.1.

(b) Claims in excess of $300,000 may be compromised, settled, waived, and released only with the prior approval of the Department of Justice.

(c) The authority granted in this section shall not be exercised in any case in which:

(1) The claim of the United States for such care and treatment has been referred to the Department of Justice; or

(2) A suit by the third party has been instituted against the United States or the individual who received or is receiving the care and treatment described in §43.1 and the suit arises out of the occurrence which gave rise to the third-party claim of the United States.

(d) The Departments and Agencies concerned shall consult the Department of Justice in all cases involving:

(1) Unusual circumstances;

(2) A new point of law which may serve as a precedent; or

(3) A policy question where there is or may be a difference of views between any of such Departments and Agencies.

[Order No. 1594-92, 57 FR 27356, June 19, 1992, as amended by Order No. 3141-2010, 75 FR 9103, Mar. 1, 2010]