The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that the U.S. Postal Service is not immune from suit by a woman who opened her door and tripped and fell over her mail that had been placed in her doorway by a postal carrier. The U.S.P.S. argued that it was immune from lawsuits according to a federal law that bars suits against the U.S.P.S. for the “loss, miscarriage or negligent transmission of letters.” The Court disagreed in a 7-1 decision holding that since the U.S.P.S. can be sued for automobile accidents its drivers cause, they should not be insulated from liability in slip and fall cases of this kind.

I personally disagree with this decision. The U.S.P.S. delivers millions of letters and packages each and every day in this country. To subject the U.S.P.S. to liability stemming from accidents like the one that gave rise to this case is unreasonable.