United States Postal Service v. Postal Regulatory Commission, No. 10-1343 (D.C. Cir. 2011)
Annotate this CaseThe United States Postal Service ("USPS") filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission ("Commission") to exceed the annual Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers ("CPI-U") cap pursuant to section 201(d) of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 ("PAEA"), Pub. L. No. 109-435, 120 Stat. 3198. At issue was whether the Commission erred in denying the exigent rate request on the ground that the USPS failed to demonstrate that the proposed rate adjustments were "due to" the cited "extraordinary or exceptional circumstances." The court held that, although the Commission correctly construed "due to" to require a causal relationship between the exigent circumstances' effects on the USPS and the amount of the above-cap rate increases, it incorrectly concluded the plain meaning of that phrase required the proposed rate adjustments to be "tailored to offset the specific effects of the claimed exigency." Therefore, the court remanded to the Commission so that it could exercise its discretion to construe the ambiguous language of section 201, explaining the extent of causation the Commission required the USPS to demonstrate between the exigent circumstances' impact on the USPS' finances and the proposed rate increase.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on May 27, 2011.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on May 27, 2011.
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