Judge dismisses Minn. mom’s lawsuit over ‘deceased’ stamp on letter she sent to son in Iraq

Judge dismisses suit over ‘deceased’ letter stamp

MINNEAPOLIS — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Minnesota mother who sued the federal government after a letter she sent to her son serving in Iraq was returned with a “deceased” stamp, even though he was alive.

Joan Najbar had sent the letter to her son, Sam Eininger, in September 2006. It was returned several weeks later with the “deceased” stamp. But Najbar contacted the Red Cross and learned her son wasn’t dead.

Najbar sued the United States in 2009, claiming she experienced emotional distress and lost income.

But U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz dismissed the case Thursday, saying federal law doesn’t give him the legal authority to decide the controversy raised in Najbar’s complaint.

An attorney for Najbar had no immediate comment Tuesday.