{"argument_date":"2005-11-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-11-07T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked why the Court should interpret the exception broadly.","Justice O'Connor asked if the waiver aimed to cover auto accidents by postal trucks.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if a broken package from a thrown delivery is covered.","Ms. Millett stated that sovereign immunity waiver principles are central to the statute."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-5"}]}],"caption":"Dolan v. Postal Service","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.161461Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.189058Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Dolan seeks damages for a late package. The Postal Service denies liability under the federal waiver.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-11-07T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-848.html","primary_docket":"04-848","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:11:01.081419Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case tests the scope of a federal statute. It waives sovereign immunity for postal negligence. The term negligent transmission defines the limit. Courts must decide if late delivery fits this term."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Dolan wants the Court to find late delivery is negligent transmission.","The Postal Service wants the Court to limit the term to physical damage."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Dolan argues the waiver covers any failure to deliver on time.","The Postal Service argues the waiver only covers physical mishandling of mail."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked if negligent transmission covers late deliveries.","Justice Scalia asked if the Court already construed the waiver broadly in Kosak v. United States."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal liability for postal errors. It determines when citizens can sue the government for mail delays. It clarifies the boundary between physical damage and service failures."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-5"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-848-dolan-v-postal-service","term":"2005","title":"Does the postal negligence waiver cover late deliveries?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-848.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-27"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}