arrow_back Civic Audit
Share share

Government Agencies Pay Legal Fees in Lost Appeals.

This bill aims to make it easier for citizens to pursue their rights in disputes with government agencies. If an agency appeals a court ruling and loses, it will be required to pay the citizen's legal fees. This could encourage agencies to make more thoughtful appeal decisions and reduce the financial burden on individuals seeking justice.
Key points
Government agencies will be required to pay citizens' attorney fees if they lose an appeal in court.
This aims to level the playing field for citizens in disputes with powerful government agencies.
These costs will be paid from the administrative budget of the agency that filed the appeal.
article Official text account_balance Process page notifications_active Track this Bill
Status: Expired
Civic Will
Checking votes...
I support
I oppose
Why does your vote on bills matter?
It creates raw, undeniable proof. Civic Will provides the permanent data to verify the Government's loyalty towards its citizens (explained here). Start recording it now.
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_415
Sponsor: Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8]
Process start date: 2021-01-21
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source—always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

To amend chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an agency that appeals the ruling of a court under that chapter, and does not prevail on appeal, the court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and for other purposes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_415.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-21.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Government agencies will be required to pay citizens' attorney fees if they lose an appeal in court.
  • This aims to level the playing field for citizens in disputes with powerful government agencies.
  • These costs will be paid from the administrative budget of the agency that filed the appeal.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know—that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law