Confused about Section 29 Civil Court Actions

SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A
1

Hello,

I have been offered and have accepted a job with a DOE contractor, and the position requires a Level Q clearance. So, I’m in the process of filling out my first ever online SF-86, and I’m a bit stumped when it comes to “Section 29 – Public Record Civil Court Actions.”

  1. I think that I may have participated as a “plaintiff” in a couple of class action lawsuits over the past ten years, but I honestly have no clue as to what they might have been for, nor do I gave any details about them. Should I bother listing anything since I truly have no info (other than a hunch)?

  2. I have otherwise never been involved as either a plaintiff or dependent in any sort of Civil Court Action. However, I was appointed by a Surrogate’s Court as an administrator for the estates of my mother and my father. In addition, my mother’s estate has an active financial claim/lien levied against it for an unpaid nursing home bill (the estate remains open pending the eventual outcome of a wrongful death settlement). As an administrator, I am not liable of course for any estate debts. In any event, should I bother listing any of this on the SF-86, or would doing so just raise more questions and not even be applicable in the first place?

Thank you in advance!

2

If you did not initiate the class action lawsuit, were not singled out and named, but rather were just a part of the particular group for whom the action was filed then you do not have to list it. For the other court action, I would list it even though you are not a plaintiff/dependent, the question asks if you were any party. If for some reason you are assessed as being financially responsible for the claim then you are covered because you disclosed it.

3

Thank you, Marko. I appreciate the guidance.