Except as provided by chapter 71 of title 41, payment of final judgments rendered by a district court or the Court of International Trade against the United States shall be made on settlements by the Secretary of the Treasury. Payment of final judgments rendered by a State or foreign court or tribunal against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States, shall be made on settlements by the Secretary of the Treasury after certification by the Attorney General that it is in the interest of the United States to pay the same. Whenever the Attorney General determines that no appeal shall be taken from a judgment or that no further review will be sought from a decision affirming the same, he shall so certify and the judgment shall be deemed final. Except as otherwise provided by law, compromise settlements of claims referred to the Attorney General for defense of imminent litigation or suits against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States, made by the Attorney General or any person authorized by him, shall be settled and paid in a manner similar to judgments in like causes and appropriations or funds available for the payment of such judgments are hereby made available for the payment of such compromise settlements.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 974; Pub. L. 87–187, § 1, Aug. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 95–563, § 14(d), Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2390; Pub. L. 96–417, title V, § 512, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1744; Pub. L. 104–316, title II, § 202(k), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3843; Pub. L. 111–350, § 5(g)(10), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3848.)