UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
2~20 DEC 29 AH 10: ~6
In Re:
U.S. DISlRICT CCUHT
ORDER REGARDING SERVICE OF SOUTHERN DIST. OHIO
PROCESS BY CERTIFIED MAIL DURING GENERAL oRD'iAf ~ll!~~~UMBUS
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Court issues this General Order, as one in a series of General Orders, in response to
the ongoing spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the Southern District of Ohio and
elsewhere. There have been more than fourteen million confirmed cases ofCOVID-19
throughout the United States, more than four-hundred thousand confirmed cases across Ohio,
and tens of thousands in each seat of Court in the Southern District of Ohio: Columbus,
Cincinnati, and Dayton. On March 13, 2020, the President declared a National Emergency
relating to COVID-19, which remains in place as of the date of this Order.
Given the nature of transmission of COVID-19, the United States Postal Service
("USPS") has implemented temporary modifications to its mail handling procedures for mail that
requires customer signatures, including certified mail. 1 These modifications remain in effect as
of the date of this Order, 2 and a copy of the modified procedures is attached to this Order and is
incorporated as if fully set forth herein. Consistent with these modifications, USPS mail carriers
may not always obtain a signature of the certified mail recipient, but instead may make certain
notations reflecting confirmation of delivery.
1
COVID-19 CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS UPDATE, Customer Signature Service, COVID-19 Response and
Prevention, https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/pdf7usps-continuity-of-operations-03-20-2020.pdf
(March 20, 2020).
2
See USPS.com, USPS® Coronavirus Updates for Residential Customers, https://fag.usps.com/s/article/USPS-
Coronavirus-Updates-for-Residential-Customers (last updated October 7, 2020); USPS.com, USPS® Coronavirus
Updates for Business Customers, httos://fag.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Coronavirus-Updates-for-Business-Customers
(last updated October 9, 2020).
Accordingly, given the significant risk associated with COVID-19 and the severity of
jeopardy posed to the public, it is hereby ORDERED that service of process may be evidenced
by delivery of certified mail or express mail by the USPS as reflected by notations of "COVID,"
"COVID-19," or other similar notations consistent with the USPS' temporary modifications to
its certified mail delivery procedures on the receipt or confirmation of delivery. Service in this
manner shall be deemed to be perfected unless otherwise challenged. As stated in Local Rule
4.2, however, ''the Court prefers parties to use the methods of service provided in Fed. R. Civ. P.
4 before using certified mail service under Ohio law." S.D. Ohio Civ. R. 4.2.
This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect so long as the USPS'
modified certified mail delivery procedures are in place.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: December 29, 2020
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
March 20, 2020
COVID-19 CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS UPDATE
Customer Signature Service
COVID-19 Response and Prevention
A number of cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have recently been confirmed across the
country.
The safety and well-being of our employees & customers is our highest priority. To help ensure the
health of our employees & customers, we are continuing to follow recommended guidance and
strategies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments, and
are implementing additional measures to help maintain social distancing.
One significant measure being implemented is a temporary modification to mail handling procedures for
mail that requires customer signatures. We recognize the close proximity and additional handling that
occurs when employees must ask customers for a signature and government issued identification when
required. To reduce health risks, we are temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures.
Effective immediately and until further notice, our employees will follow the temporary process below
for signature service items. This process applies to all letter carriers:
• Avoid ringing the doorbell when possible. Knock on the customer’s door. Avoid areas that may
be frequently touched when knocking.
• While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first
initial and last name.
• For increased safety, employees will ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the
screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location
by the customer door.
• If there is no response, employees will follow the normal Notice Left process.
• If there are delivery points on the route where social distancing recommendations are difficult
to follow, alternative delivery methods can be explored.
Industry and commercial customers can email questions or concerns about COVID-19 and the mail to
[email protected] with COVID-19 in the subject line. Mailers can also sign up for Industry
Alerts at
[email protected].
For more information, see the USPS Coronavirus Statement at about.usps.com/newsroom.
