Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(R
ev. 04/21)
Page 1 of 8
Contract
Code
Title
Description
110
Insurance
Action alleging breach of insurance contract, tort claim, or other cause
related to an insurance contract, except for maritime insurance
contracts.
120
Marine
Action (Admiralty or Maritime) based on service, employment,
insurance or other contracts relating to maritime vessels and other
maritime contractual matters.
130
Miller Act
Action based on performance and payment bonds agreed to by
contractors on federal construction projects as required under the
Miller Act, 40 U.S.C. § 3131-3134.
140
Negotiable Instrument
Action relating to an agreement to pay a specific amount of money,
including promissory notes, loan agreements and checks.
150
Recovery of Overpayment & Enforcement
Judgment
Action to recover debt owed to the United States, including
enforcement of judgments, based on overpayments and restitution
agreements involving matters other than Medicare benefits, student
loans and veterans’ benefits.
151
Medicare
Action relating to Medicare payments, including actions for payments of
benefits, to recover overpayments, and for judicial review of
administrative decisions.
152
Recovery of Defaulted Student Loans
(Excludes Veterans)
Action to recover debt owed to the United States from defaulted
student loan.
153
Recovery of Overpayment of Veterans'
Benefits
Action relating to payments of veterans’ benefits, primarily including
actions to recover overpayments.
160
Stockholders' Suits
Action brought by stockholder(s) of a corporation (including both
stockholder derivative suits and direct actions based on plaintiff’s rights
as a stockholder), usually alleging claims based on contract and/or tort
law and/or fiduciary obligations.
190
Other Contract
Action primarily based on rights and obligations under a contract not
classifiable elsewhere under the specific natures of suit under
“Contract.”
195
Contract Product Liability
Actions primarily alleging personal injury
or property damage caused by a defective
product should be classified under the
appropriate nature of suit code under
“TORTS.”
Action concerning damages caused by a defective product, not primarily
involving personal injury or property damage, and based primarily on
breach of contract, breach of warranty, misrepresentation, and/or
violation of consumer protection laws.
196
Franchise
Action arising from a dispute over a franchise agreement, typically
alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation or unfair trade practices.
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 2 of 8
Real Property
Title
Description
Land Condemnation
Action by a governmental entity to take privately-owned real property
(land or buildings) for public use for compensation.
Foreclosure
Action to enjoin foreclosure on real property by mortgage lender.
Rent Lease & Ejectment
Action for rental or lease payments owed on real property and/or to
eject a party occupying real property illegally.
Torts to Land
Action alleging trespass to land, nuisance, contamination or other
unlawful entry on or interference with real property possessed by
another.
Tort Product Liability
Action alleging harm by an unsafe product based on negligence, breach
of warranty, misrepresentation, and strict tort liability.
All Other Real Property
Action primarily based on unlawful conduct relating to real property
that cannot be classified under any other nature of suit.
Torts/Personal Injury
Title
Description
Airplane
(Excludes airplane product liability
claims)
Action alleging personal injury or wrongful death from an air crash or
other occurrence involving an airplane.
Airplane Product Liability
Action alleging personal injury or death from an air crash or other
occurrence involving an airplane and caused by a defective product.
Assault, Libel & Slander
(Excludes a government employee)
Action alleging intentional acts of assault, libel, trade libel or slander by
a private party.
Federal Employers' Liability
Action for personal injury or wrongful death brought by a railroad
employee or his survivors under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act
(FELA), 45 U.S.C. § 51, et. seq.
Marine
(Excludes marine product liability claims)
Action (Admiralty and Maritime) alleging personal injury or death from
an accident involving a water vessel or harbor/dock facilities, including
suits brought under the Jones Act and the Limitation of Liability Act.
Marine Product Liability
Action (Admiralty and Maritime) alleging personal injury or wrongful
death from an accident involving a water vessel or harbor/dock
facilities and caused by a defective product.
Motor Vehicle
Action alleging personal injury or wrongful death from negligence
involving a motor vehicle but not caused by a defective product.
Motor Vehicle Product Liability
Action alleging personal injury or wrongful death involving a motor
vehicle and caused by a defective product.
Other Personal Injury
Action primarily based on personal injury or death caused by
negligence or intentional misconduct, including suits brought against
the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and which cannot
be classified under any other nature of suit.
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice
Action alleging personal injury or wrongful death caused by negligence
in medical care provided by a doctor or other health care professional.
Personal Injury - Product Liability
(Excludes a marine or airplane product)
Action alleging personal injury or death resulting from a defective
product.
Health Care/Pharmaceutical Personal
Injury Product Liability
Action alleging personal injury or death caused by a defective medical
or pharmaceutical product.
Asbestos Personal Injury Product Liability
Action alleging personal injury or death caused by exposure to asbestos
products.
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 3 of 8
Personal Property
Title
Description
Other Fraud
(Excludes any property that is not real
property)
Action primarily based on fraud relating to personal property that
cannot be classified under any other nature of suit.
Truth in Lending
Actions relating to fraud or
misrepresentation in the transfer of real
property should be classified under
nature of suit 290, “All Other Real
Property,” or, if foreclosure is involved,
under nature of suit 220, “Foreclosure.”
Action alleging violation of the federal Truth in Lending Act arising from
consumer loan transactions involving personal property including
automobile loans and revolving credit accounts.
Other Personal Property Damage
Action primarily based on damage to personal property caused by
harmful conduct such as negligence, misrepresentation, interference
with business relationships or unfair trade practices.
Property Damage Product Liability
Action alleging damage to personal property caused by a defective
product.
Civil Rights
Title
Description
Other Civil Rights
(Excludes claims against corrections
officials)
Action alleging a civil rights violation other than the specific civil rights
categories listed below or a violation related to prison. Example:
Action alleging excessive force by police incident to an arrest.
Voting
Action filed under Civil Rights Act, 52 U.S.C. § 10101, and Voting Rights
Act, 52 U.S.C. § 10301
Employment
Action filed under Age Discrimination in Employment Act 29:621:634,
Equal Employment Opportunity Act (Title VII) 42:2000E, Performance
Rating Act of 1950 5:4303
Housing/Accommodations
Action filed under the Fair Housing Act (Title VII), 42 U.S.C. § 3601 &
3602.
Americans With Disabilities -
Employment
Action of discrimination against an employee with disabilities of any
type in the work place, filed under 42 U.S.C. § 12117
Americans With Disabilities - Other
Action of discrimination against an individual with disabilities in areas
other than employment, filed under 42 U.S.C. § 12133 (exclusion or
discrimination in provision of services, programs or activities of a public
entity) or 42 U.S.C. § 12188 (public accommodations)
Education
Action filed under the Individuals with Disabilities Educations Act, 20
U.S.C. § 1401 and Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, 20
U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 4 of 8
Prisoner Petitions
Habeas Corpus
Title
Description
Alien Detainee
Immigration habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. All cases filed
with this nature of suit code are restricted to case participants and
public terminals. Petition is filed by an alien detainee.
Motions to Vacate Sentence
Action by a prisoner to vacate or modify a sentence imposed in federal
court, other than a death sentence, under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
General
Action by a federal or state prisoner currently in custody challenging
the legality of confinement or other punishment. This includes claims
alleging illegalities that occurred in trial (for example, ineffective
assistance of counsel), sentencing (including fines and restitution
orders), or disciplinary proceedings in prison (for example, loss of good
time credits). Habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 or prisoner
habeas under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
Death Penalty
Action by a federal or state prisoner challenging a death sentence.
Other
Prisoner Petitions
Title
Description
Mandamus & Other
Action by prisoner currently in custody for a writ of mandamus to
compel action by a judge or government official relating to the
prisoner’s confinement, including conditions of confinement. This
category also includes any actions other than mandamus brought by a
prisoner currently in custody, whether or not it relates to his
confinement, if it is not classifiable under any other nature of suit
category under Prisoner Petitions (for example, action by prisoner to
recover property taken by the government in a criminal case).
Civil Rights
Action by current or former prisoner alleging a civil rights violation by
corrections officials that is not related to a condition of prison life.
Prison Condition
Action by current prisoner, or former prisoner or their families alleging
a civil rights, Federal Tort Claims Act, or state law claim with respect to
a condition of prison life, whether general circumstances or particular
episodes. Examples: inadequate medical care or excessive force by
prison guards. Includes non-habeas actions by alien detainees alleging
unlawful prison conditions.
Civil Detainee - Conditions of
Confinement (Excludes actions by alien
detainees)
Action by former prisoner who was involuntarily committed to a non-
criminal facility after expiration of his or her prison term alleging
unlawful conditions of confinement while in the non-criminal facility.
This category includes, for example, an action by a former prisoner
classified as a Sexually Dangerous Person or Sexually Violent Predator
alleging civil rights violations during his detention in a medical facility.
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 5 of 8
Forfeiture/Penalty
Title
Description
Drug Related Seizure of Property 21
U.S.C. § 881
Action (Forfeiture) by which property itself is accused of wrongdoing
and is forfeited to the government as a result.
Other
Action primarily based on Acts or Bills that cannot be classified under
any other nature of suit, such as: Endangered Species Act, Federal
Hazardous Substance Act 15:1261, Game & Wildlife Act 15:256C et seq.
(Penalty), Federal Trade Commission Act 15:41-51 (Penalty), Federal
Coal Mine Health & Safety Act 30:801 et seq. (Penalty), Load Line Act
46:85-85G, McGuire Bill (Federal Fair Trade) 15:45L Penalty, Marihuana
Tax Act 50 STAT 551, Motorboat Act 46:526-526T, National Traffic &
Motor Vehicle Safety Act penalty 49:1655, Veterans' Benefit Act, Title
38 Penalty.
Labor
Title
Description
Fair Labor
Standards Act (Non-Union)
Action relating to non-union workplace related disputes filed under the
Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 including but not limited to
wage discrimination, paid leave, minimum wage and overtime pay.
Labor/Management Relations (Union)
Action relating to disputes between labor unions and employers as well
as all petitions regarding actions of the Nation Labor Relations Board
(NLRB)
Railway Labor Act
Action relating to disputes filed under the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C.
§ 151 including labor disputes, individual claims, and response to
sanctions.
Family and Medical Leave Act
Action filed under the Family Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601
Other Labor Litigation
Action primarily based on labor disputes not addressed by other NOS
codes (includes Labor/Management Reporting and Disclosure Act)
Employee Retirement Income Security
Act
Action filed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29
U.S.C. § 1132 by individuals and labor organizations.
Immigration
Title
Description
Naturalization Application
Action seeking review of denial of an application for naturalization [8
U.S.C. § 1447(b)] or alleging failure to make a determination regarding
an application for naturalization [8 U.S.C. § 1421(c)].
Other Immigration
Actions
Action (Immigration-related) that do not involve Naturalization
Applications or petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus, such as complaints
alleging failure to adjudicate an application to adjust immigration
status to permanent resident.
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 6 of 8
Bankruptcy
Title
Description
Appeal 28 USC § 158
All appeals of previous bankruptcy decisions filed under
28 U.S.C. § 158
Withdrawal of Reference 28 USC § 157
Action held in bankruptcy court requesting withdrawal under the
provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 157
Intellectual Property Rights
Title
Description
Copyright
Action filed in support or to dispute a copyright claim.
Patent
Action filed in support or to dispute a patent claim.
Patent – Abbreviated New Drug
Application (ANDA)
Action filed in support or to dispute a patent claim involving an
Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA). These cases are also known
as “Hatch-Waxman” cases.
Trademark
Action filed in support or to dispute a trademark claim
Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA)
Action filed in support or to dispute a trade secret misappropriation
Social Security
Title
Description
HIA (1395ff)
Action filed with regard to social security benefits associated with
Health Insurance Part A Medicare
Black Lung (923)
Action filed with regard to social security benefits provided for those
who contracted Black Lung or their beneficiaries
DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Action filed with regard to social security benefits provided to disabled
individuals: worker or child, or widow
SSID Title XVI
Action filed with regard to social security benefits provided to
Supplemental Security Income Disability under Title XVI
RSI (405(g))
Action filed with regard to social security benefits provided for
Retirement, Survivor Insurance under 42 U.S.C. § 405
Federal Tax Suits
Title
Description
Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff or Defendant)
Action filed under the Internal Revenue Code (General)
IRS-Third Party 26 USC 7609
Action filed under the Internal Revenue Code - Tax Reform Act of 1976
(P.L. 94-455) Third Party
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 7 of 8
Other Statutes
Title
Description
False Claims Act
Action filed by private individuals alleging fraud against the U.S.
Government under 31 U.S.C. § 3729.
Qui Tam (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a))
Action brought under the False Claims Act by private persons (also
known as "whistleblowers") on their own behalf and on behalf of the
United States to recover damages against another person or entity that
acted fraudulently in receiving payments or property from, or avoiding
debts owed to, the United States Government, 31 U.S.C. § 3730
State Reapportionment
Action filed under the Reapportionment Act of 1929 Ch. 28, 46 Stat. 21,
2 U.S.C. § 2a.
Antitrust
Action brought under the Clayton Act 15 U.S.C. § 12 - 27 alleging
undue restriction of trade and commerce by designated methods that
limit free competition in the market place amongst consumers such as
anti-competitive price discrimination, corporate mergers, interlocking
directorates or tying and exclusive dealing contracts.
Banks and Banking
Action filed under the Federal Home Loan Bank Act 12:1421-1449,
Home Owners Loan Act 12:1461 or Federal Reserve Acts 12:142 et seq.
Commerce
Action filed under the Interstate Commerce Acts 49:1 et seq., 49:301
Deportation
Action filed under the Immigration Acts (Habeas Corpus & Review)
8:1101/18:1546
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, RICO 18:1961-1968
Consumer Credit
Action filed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681n or
15 U.S.C. 1681o, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,
15 U.S.C. § 1692k
Telephone Consumer Protection Act
(TCPA)
Action filed under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act 47 U.S.C. §
227
Cable/Satellite TV
Action filed involving unauthorized reception of cable/satellite TV
service under 47 U.S.C. § 553 (unauthorized reception of cable/satellite
TV), or 47 U.S.C. § 605 (e)(3) (unauthorized use or publication of a
communication)
Securities/Commodities/Exchange
Action filed under Small Business Investment Act 15:681, Securities
Exchange Act 15:78, Securities Act 15:77, Investment Advisers Act
15:80B(1-21)
Other Statutory Actions
Action primarily based on Statutes that cannot be classified under any
other nature of suit, such as: Foreign Agents Registration Act 22:611-
621, Klamath Termination Act 25:564-564W-L, Federal Aid Highway Act
23:101-142, Federal Corrupt Practices Act 2:241-256, Federal Election
Campaign Act, Highway Safety Act 23:401 Immigration & Nationality
Act 8:1503, Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act 49:1671-1700,
Naturalization Acts 8:1421/18:911, 1015, 1421, et seq., 3282 or Federal
Aviation Act 49:1301 et seq.
Agricultural Acts
Action filed under the Federal Crop Insurance Act 7:1501-1550,
Commodity Credit Corporation Act 15:713A-L & 4.
Environmental Matters
Action filed under Air Pollution Control Act 42:1857-57L, Clean Air Act
42:1857:57L, Federal Environment Pesticide Control Act, Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act 7:135, Federal Water Pollution
Control Act 33:1151 et seq., Land & Water Conservation Fund Act
16:4602,460 1-4, Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act 42:1857F-1-8,
Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
(Rev. 10/20)
Page 8 of 8
National Environmental Policy Act 42:4321, 4331-35G, 4341-47, River &
Harbor Act penalty 3:401-437, 1251.
Other Statutes (Continued)
Title
Description
Freedom of Information Act
Action filed under the Freedom of Information Act 5:552.
Arbitration
Action involving actions to confirm or modify arbitration awards filed
under Title 9 of the U.S. Code.
Administrative Procedure Act/Review or
Appeal of Agency Decision
Action filed under the Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. § 701, or
civil actions to review or appeal a federal agency decision.
Constitutionality of State Statutes
Action drawing into question the constitutionality of a federal or state
statute filed under (Rule 5.1). Rule 5.1 implements 28 U.S.C. §2403.
N
ote: The statutes listed above are not all-inclusive, and other statues might be applicable to each nature of suit.
Statutes that are included in the descriptions should be viewed as examples.