US Supreme Court opens term considering case under the Federal Torts Claims Act

 This week, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving the Federal Torts Claims Act.

In this case the plaintiff sued the federal government and the US Postal Service alleging damages because postal workers refused to deliver mail to the plaintiff’s property.  The lower court dismissed the claim, the Torts Claims Act recognizes immunity for the federal government in matters involving the handling of postal matters, which includes lost and delayed mail.  But the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, holding that intentional non-delivery is not a “loss,” “miscarriage,” or “negligent transmission” of mail, because those terms don’t cover intentional acts.

Here an article on the background of the case:  "How a mail delivery dispute made it to the Supreme Court."

Here is an article reviewing the oral argument: "Court debates lost catalogs and delayed Christmas cards while hearing case on intentionally undelivered mail."