Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Oregon

Mail Questions

I am guessing this is a Civil Rights question. If it is not, please point me in the right direction. Here it is: given the state of the country since 9/11/01, is it all right for a mailing company (i.e. FedEx, USPS, UPS, etc.) to damage a package, open that package, re-pack that package in a different container and then give it to the proper recipient without any sort of notification or explanation? If there are any web links that would help me out I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.


Asked on 2/11/03, 12:58 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Mail Questions

If the contents were not affected, then no wrong has been done. Shipping companies are governed by tariffs filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission. In those tariffs they are authorized to take such action as they deem necessary to protect the items under their control. Damage sometimes occurs. It only makes sense that the company protect the contents, and if re-packaging is required, then it is authorized. It may be good public relations to inform the receipient of their actions, but there is no legal requirement that they do so.

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Answered on 2/11/03, 3:37 am


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