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Frustrated by missing mail, one American took the Postal Service to court
The case challenges whether the postal exemption to the Federal Tort Claims Act covers intentional mail withholding by employees, affecting tenant communications and landlord income.
- Lebene Konan, a Texas landlord, filed a FTCA lawsuit after dozens of complaints, alleging two Euless, Texas post office employees withheld mail for about two years; the U.S. Postal Service appealed and the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The dispute began when a rental property's mailbox key was changed without Konan's knowledge, blocking her access; she proved ownership but delivery problems persisted despite the USPS Inspector General's order, and she alleges employees marked some mail undeliverable or returned it to sender.
- Federal courts split on whether the postal exemption shields the USPS from suit, as a federal district court in Texas dismissed Konan's FTCA claims but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed part last year.
- The Postal Service warned the case could trigger many suits over missing mail, while Konan says tenants missed bills, medications and car titles, and officials cautioned about frivolous litigation.
- A decision in the case is expected next year after justices last month sharply questioned the government's claim that USPS is shielded from such lawsuits, while Kevin Kosar said a narrow ruling likely won't unleash many suits.
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Total News Sources54
Leaning Left11Leaning Right4Center34Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Center
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
69% Center
L 23%
C 69%
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