History
  • No items yet
midpage
Smith v. United States Postal Service
708 F. App'x 419
| 9th Cir. | 2017
|
Check Treatment
|
Docket
Case Information

*1 Before: WALLACE, SILVERMAN, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.

Frederic Paul Smith appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing on the basis of sovereign immunity his action against the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) alleging that a USPS employee stole a sapphire he sent through the U.S. mail. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review *2 de novo. Harger v. Dep’t of Labor , 569 F.3d 898, 903 (9th Cir. 2009). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Smith’s action on the basis of sovereign immunity because the waiver of sovereign immunity under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b) does not apply to “[a]ny claim arising out of the loss, miscarriage, or negligent transmission of letters or postal matter.” 28 U.S.C. § 2680(b); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b) (waiving United States sovereign immunity for certain tort actions); Dolan v. U.S. Postal Serv., et al ., 546 U.S. 481, 487 (2006) (discussing meaning of “loss” under § 2680(b)).

Contrary to Smith’s contention, the USPS did not waive its sovereign immunity in its letter denying Smith’s administrative claim. See Gilbert v. DaGrossa , 756 F.2d 1455, 1460 n.6 (9th Cir. 1985) (“A claim for damages against a federal agency is barred by sovereign immunity unless Congress has consented to suit.”).

We do not consider documents not presented to the district court. See United States v. Elias , 921 F.2d 870, 874 (9th Cir. 1990) (“Documents or facts not presented to the district court are not part of the record on appeal.”).

AFFIRMED.

2 17-35004

[*] This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

[**] The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Case Details

Case Name: Smith v. United States Postal Service
Court Name: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Date Published: Dec 28, 2017
Citation: 708 F. App'x 419
Docket Number: 17-35004
Court Abbreviation: 9th Cir.
AI-generated responses must be verified and are not legal advice.
Your Notebook is empty. To add cases, bookmark them from your search, or select Add Cases to extract citations from a PDF or a block of text.