Brief Fact Summary. The United States Postal Service suspended its restrictions to allow international remailing, and the Union of Postal Workers filed suit in District Court to challenge the practice.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. To establish standing to sue under the Administrative Procedure Act, a plaintiff must establish that they have suffered a legal wrong because of the challenged agency action, or are adversely affected and have suffered an injury in fact. The injury or adverse affect must fall within the “zone of interests” the statutory provision is designed to protect.
An appellate court decides cases on the best and narrowest ground available.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Are postal employees within the “zone of interests” of the Private Express Statutes, so that they may challenge the action of the United States Postal Service in suspending the operation of the PES with respect to a practice of private courier services called “international mailing?”
Held. Reversed. No, the postal employees are not within the “zone of interests” of the PES and do not have standing to challenge the suspension of the PES with respect to international remailing. Congress’ intent in enacting the PES was to ensure the receipt of necessary revenues for the Postal Service; the Congressional concern was not with the opportunities for postal workers. The postal monopoly exists to ensure that postal services will be provided to the citizenry at large, not to secure employment for postal workers. Dissent. None. Concurrence. The Union’s challenge should be dismissed based on the narrowest grounds available: The actual text of the Postal Reorganization Act stating that the judicial review provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act do not apply to the powers of the Postal Service.
Discussion. In order to have standing to challenge a statute, a plaintiff must belong to the class of persons the statute was designed to protect.