Woman who tripped over her mail can sue

[alicia-w]

Give me a break!

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Postal Service can be sued by a woman who tripped over mail left on her porch.

The 7-1 decision revived a Pennsylvania woman's claim that she was entitled to damages after suffering wrist and back injuries during the 2001 fall at her home in suburban Philadelphia.

The letters, packages and periodicals were put on Barbara Dolan's porch instead of in her mailbox.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority, dismissed government concerns of costly litigation.

"The government raises the specter of frivolous slip-and-fall claims inundating the Postal Service," he wrote. "Slip-and-fall liability, however ... is a risk shared by any business that makes home deliveries."

Justices had been asked to interpret a federal law that bars lawsuits over the "loss, miscarriage or negligent transmission of letters or postal matter." The court said the law did not cover Dolan's claim.

The Bush administration had told justices last fall that the Postal Service delivers about 660 million pieces of mail each day and would have a hard time disproving complaints about accidents.

Justice Clarence Thomas sided with the government. In a lone dissent, he said that personal injury lawsuits resulting from mail delivery should be prohibited.

Thomas said that under the law, the post office cannot be sued if a carrier negligently drops a package of glassware, and if the customer is cut by the shattered glass. It makes no sense, he said, for the court to allow that same customer to sue if he trips on the package.

"There is no basis in the text (of the law) for the line drawn," he wrote.

New Justice Samuel Alito did not participate in the ruling, because he was not on the court when the case was argued.

[wxmann_91]

Are you freaking serious?!

Tomorrow I'm going to sue the milk company because I left the milk outside for too long!

[Brent]

Please tell me this is a joke...

[alicia-w]

No joke. The link below is from the Supreme Court's website:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/22Feb20061130/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-848.pdf

[brunota2003]

ok...I am going to sue the battery companys for having batterys that dont last forever...give me a break...

[gtalum]

Being able to sue and being able to win are two different things.

[alicia-w]

it takes valuable time and money and (IMHO) should be considered frivolous.

[gtalum]

it takes valuable time and money and (IMHO) should be considered frivolous.

Let the court in PA decide that.

[coriolis]

Whats the matter? Someone can't look where they're walking? Who's going to pay for the lawsuit? All of us!

[MGC]

Yea, this case is as stupid as the hot coffee at McDonalds a few years ago.....MGC

[tomboudreau]

Yea, this case is as stupid as the hot coffee at McDonalds a few years ago.....MGC

And this is one of the lawsuits that has started the let sue becuse we too stupid too think for ourselves. Stupid ppl.

*gets off his rant*