[AID Request for Decision Concerning Liability for Refugee Damages Claim]
Highlights
The Agency for International Development asked for an advance decision about its liability for the damage claim of a Vietnamese refugee. The claim arose as the result of actions taken by the United States. The record indicated that, due to U.S. evacuation of the area during a chaotic military withdrawal, the claimant's goods were misplaced and subsequently sold. GAO held that, since the claim was the result of combat operations, it was not cognizant under the non-combat legislation cited by the claimant. Rather, the matter came under normal GAO claims settlement authority. However, since the claim was filed after the statute of limitations had expired for such matters, its substantive issues were not considered. Accordingly, the claim was denied.