October Term 2005 · Docket 04-848
Does the postal negligence waiver cover late deliveries?
Dolan seeks damages for a late package. The Postal Service denies liability under the federal waiver.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-54
What each side wants
Dolan wants the Court to find late delivery is negligent transmission.
The Postal Service wants the Court to limit the term to physical damage.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
What each side says
Dolan argues the waiver covers any failure to deliver on time.
The Postal Service argues the waiver only covers physical mishandling of mail.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
What the justices asked
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
Why it matters
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.