7 USC 6807 – Petition and review
(a) Petition and hearing
(1) Petition
A person subject to an order may file with the Secretary a petition—
(A) stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law; and
(B) requesting a modification of the order or an exemption from the order.
(2) Hearing
The petitioner shall be given the opportunity for a hearing on a petition filed under paragraph (1), in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. Any such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 6809(b)(2) of this title and be held within the United States judicial district in which the residence or principal place of business of the person is located.
(3) Ruling
After a hearing under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make a ruling on the petition, which shall be final if in accordance with law.
(b) Review
(1) Commencement of action
The district courts of the United States in any district in which a person who is a petitioner under subsection (a) resides or conducts business shall have jurisdiction to review the ruling of the Secretary on the petition of the person, if a complaint requesting the review is filed not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling by the Secretary.
(2) Process
Service of process in proceedings under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(3) Remand
If the court in a proceeding under this subsection determines that the ruling of the Secretary on the petition of the person is not in accordance with law, the court shall remand the matter to the Secretary with directions—
(A) to make such ruling as the court shall determine to be in accordance with law; or
(B) to take such further action as, in the opinion of the court, the law requires.
(c) Enforcement
The pendency of proceedings instituted under this section shall not impede, hinder, or delay the Attorney General or the Secretary from obtaining relief under section 6808 of this title.
Terms Used In 7 USC 6807
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- order: means an order issued under this chapter (other than sections 6808, 6809, and 6811 of this title). See 7 USC 6802
- person: means any individual, group of individuals, firm, partnership, corporation, joint stock company, association, society, cooperative, or other legal entity. See 7 USC 6802
- Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
- Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 7 USC 6802
- United States: means the States collectively. See 7 USC 6802