Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01690/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01690-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Tort/Non-Motor Vehicle

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Monika E. Walker, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Unknown Party (named as: Postmaster -

Surprise, AZ), 

Defendant. 

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CV-11-1690-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and

12(b)(6), Fed. R. Civ. P. (doc. 4), plaintiff’s response (doc. 6), defendant’s reply (doc. 8),

plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment (doc. 5), and defendant’s response (doc. 7). 

In June 2011, plaintiff purchased a glass bowl while vacationing in Italy. On June 17,

2011, plaintiff visited the U.S. Postal Service office in Surprise, Arizona to mail the bowl to

her friend. Plaintiff insured the bowl for $100.00. The bowl arrived at its destination on

June 23, 2011 in a broken state. Plaintiff filed a claim for the damaged bowl with the Postal

Service. After following up several times on the status of her claim, plaintiff was informed

that the claim would not be paid. 

On July 19, 2011, plaintiff filed this action in the Hassayampa Justice Court in

Surprise, Arizona seeking $115.31 from the Postal Service for damaging her package and

refusing to pay her claim. Plaintiff admits that the Postal Service has since paid her claim,

Case 2:11-cv-01690-FJM Document 9 Filed 09/29/11 Page 1 of 2
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but now requests $53.00 in damages to cover her filing costs. Defendant removed to this

court and filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6), Fed. R. Civ. P.

Defendant contends that this court lacks jurisdiction over claims that the U.S. Postal Service

damaged a package. Defendant is correct. 

Sovereign immunity bars lawsuits against the United States, including lawsuits against

the U.S. Postal Service, unless the government waives immunity. Dolan v. U.S. Postal Serv.,

546 U.S. 481, 484, 126 S. Ct. 1252, 1256 (2006). The Federal Tort Claims Act provides an

exclusive remedy for people claiming damages to person or property resulting from the

negligent acts of federal government employees. 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1) (2010). However,

an exception to this waiver of immunity applies to "[a]ny claim arising out of the loss,

miscarriage, or negligent transmission of letters or postal matter." 28 U.S.C. § 2680(b).

Consequently, the United States may not be liable for claims relating to this exception. See

Dolan, 546 U.S. at 485, 126 S. Ct. at 1256. Plaintiff's claim for damages relating to the

mishandling of her packaged bowl by the Postal Service is a claim that arises from the

miscarriage or negligent handling of postal material. Therefore, there is no waiver of

sovereign immunity as applied to plaintiff's claim, and this court lacks jurisdiction to hear

the case. 

 IT IS ORDERED GRANTING defendant's motion to dismiss for lack of subject

matter jurisdiction with prejudice (doc. 4). As the court lacks jurisdiction over this matter,

we cannot reach the merits of plaintiff's summary judgment motion. Therefore, IT IS

FURTHER ORDERED DENYING plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (doc. 5) as

moot. 

DATED this 29th day of September, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-01690-FJM Document 9 Filed 09/29/11 Page 2 of 2