---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 3901"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "3901"
heading: "Civil actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/3901"
units:
  - "Part VI — Particular Proceedings"
  - "Chapter 179 — Judicial Review of Certain Actions by Presidential Offices"
---

# §3901. Civil actions

- (a) **Parties.—** In an action under [section 1346(g) of this title](/usc/28/1346.md?p=g), the defendant shall be the employing office alleged to have committed the violation involved.
- (b) **Jury Trial.—** In an action described in [subsection (a)](#a), any party may demand a jury trial where a jury trial would be available in an action against a private defendant under the relevant law made applicable by chapter 5 of title 3. In any case in which a violation of [section 411 of title 3](/usc/3/411.md) is alleged, the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) shall not inform the jury of the maximum amount of compensatory damages available under section 411(b)(1) or 411(b)(3) of title 3.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–331, § 3(c), Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4070.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1997, see section 3(d) of Pub. L. 104–331, set out as a note under section 1296 of this title.