Lyndonville Savings Bank & Trust Co. v. Lussier

CARDAMONE, Circuit Judge:

We construe on this appeal a federal statute that permits a restitution order entered in a criminal sentencing proceeding to be enforced like a judgment in a civil suit. The restitution order in this case directed defendants to repay their victim a large sum of money. The victim brought a federal civil suit to have the criminal order amended to direct payment in full “forthwith,” rather than in installments as provided in the restitution order. The statute in question grants a victim the right to enforce a restitution order “in the same manner as a judgment in a civil…