United States Postal Service v. Konan

The Court said the Federal Tort Claims Act's postal exception covers claims that Postal Service employees intentionally did not deliver mail. It reversed the Fifth Circuit, blocking Lebene Konan's suit over alleged nondelivery to her rental properties.

Justice Thomas wrote the 5–4 opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Kavanaugh, and Barrett; Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Jackson dissented.

The Court reversed the Fifth Circuit; the record provided does not include a vote count or opinion lineup.

Majority

Thomas

Roberts

Alito

Kavanaugh

Barrett

Dissent

Sotomayor

Kagan

Gorsuch

Jackson

People generally cannot sue the United States under this law for mail that was intentionally not delivered, not just mail lost through carelessness. That affects customers, landlords, and businesses that say Postal Service workers withheld their mail.

Lower courts must apply the Court's reading of the exception in similar suits against the United States. Konan's claim cannot proceed on the theory rejected by the Court.

The Court said intentional nondelivery of mail falls within the federal postal exception. It reversed the Fifth Circuit and barred Konan's suit under that law.

Postal customers, landlords, and businesses alleging withheld mail may be affected. They generally cannot use this federal law to sue the United States over intentional nondelivery.

Lower courts will follow the Court's interpretation in similar cases. Konan's lawsuit cannot continue under the claim the Court found barred.