Managing DOE

The Department's Efforts to Control Litigation Costs Gao ID: T-RCED-96-170 May 14, 1996

Many class action lawsuits have been filed against the contractors who have operated the Energy Department's (DOE) facilities, and the costs associated with their defense have been borne by DOE. DOE has taken steps to better control its outside litigation expenses, which exceeded $25 million in fiscal year 1995. DOE has instituted cost control guidance on litigation expenses that can be reimbursed by the agency, a measure that has saved DOE hundreds of thousands of dollars. In some cases, however, the guidance has not been consistently applied or followed. Moreover, other issues are driving DOE's overall litigation costs, including the number of law firms representing DOE contractors, the way in which discovery requests are handled, and database development. DOE has begun to take action, such as consolidating law firms and contractors in the In re Hanford case, to address these issues.



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