The United States owns and operates motor vehicles, hospitals, healthcare clinics, office buildings, and roads. The United States owns and operates the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Northport VA Medical Center, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Albany VA Medical Center. When a federal employee is negligent and causes injury to another in the course of employment, the United States is liable for money damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Before a lawsuit can be started a notice of the claim must be sent to the agency responsible for the injury. For example if the claim involved a postal truck, the notice must be sent to the US Postmaster; if the claim involved a VA hospital the notice must be sent to the Veterans Administration; if the claim involved a federally funded healthcare clinic, the notice must be sent to the US Department of Health. The notice of claim requires a detailed statement of the nature of the claim, damages, injuries, theory of liability and amount of money damages demanded. The agency will review the claim and decide whether it should be paid or rejected. If the claim is rejected a lawsuit can be started in the Federal Court against the United States within two years of the date the claim arose. The case is heard and decided by the judge; there is no right to a jury trial.
