USAOs and Department litigating divisions should consider the existence of the following criteria as illustrative of the types of significant investigations and litigation that must be reported:

1. • National or statewide public official, public entity, or prominent public figure as a party, subject, target, victim, or significant witness;
2. • High likelihood of coverage in national news media;
3. • High likelihood of Congressional interest;
4. • Extraordinarily large monetary liability, loss amount, or recovery at issue;
5. • Significant implications on foreign relations; and
6. • Novel theory of law likely to implicate significant Department interests.

[updated September 2024]