The Civil Recoveries Bureau recoups money owed to state agencies through affirmative litigation. The bureau's work is carried out by 10 units, five based in The Capitol in Albany, and five based at or near the state hospitals.
The bureau also recovers the cost of care at the state's four veterans homes in Montrose, Batavia, Oxford, and St. Albans, through our Helen Hayes Hospital office. The Bankruptcy Unit represents state entities in bankruptcy proceedings, primarily in the northern and western districts, as well as all federal judicial districts in the country.
Phone: Fax: The General Recoveries Unit handles recovery litigation on behalf of a variety of state agency clients. The Mental Hygiene Unit recovers the cost of care in state mental hygiene facilities, in addition to commencing guardianships and creating supplement needs trusts. The Oil Spill Unit recovers the cost of petroleum-spill remediation from responsible parties. Click here to access the ePayment Portal and obtain detailed instructions on its use. Please note: If you are contacting the unit to discuss a debt, and you are not the debtor, we must receive written permission by fax or email from the student debtor before discussing their case with you, as required by the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The bureau also defends individual state officers and employees in Supreme Court in civil actions for money damages arising in tort, medical or dental malpractice, unjust conviction, and breach of contract. The Litigation Bureau, with locations in New York City and Albany, represents the state, its officers, and its agencies in state and federal courts in actions involving almost every substantive area of the law.
The bureau protects the public interest by defending constitutional challenges to state statutes, regulations, policies, and practices and by bringing actions to enforce state laws and regulations.
