Fairness in Government Act of 1980

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Fairness in Government Act of 1980 - Excludes from the definition of "party" for purposes of this Act: (1) an individual whose net worth exceeds $250,000; and (2) any partnership, corporation, association, or organization whose net worth exceeds $1,000,000. Authorizes a Federal agency to award a prevailing party (other than the United States) reasonable attorney fees and other expenses incurred in administrative adjudication, upon a finding that the position of agency staff was arbitrary, frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless, or that such staff continued to proceed after its position clearly became so. Authorizes a court to award a prevailing party (other than the United States) reasonable attorney fees incurred in any civil action by or against the United States where the court may award such fees in such suits involving private parties (thus applying to Government litigation the common law exceptions to the "American rule" which requires parties to be responsible for their own attorney fees). Permits a court to award a prevailing party (other than the United States) reasonable attorney fees and other expenses incurred in any civil action, other than a tort or tax action, by or …