P.S. Docket No. MD 20-374


February 9, 2021

P.S. Docket No. MD 20-374

In the Matter of a Mail Dispute Between

BECKY A. MCHUGHES and THE MCHUGHES LAW FIRM, PLLC and
JOSH E. MCHUGHES

APPEARANCE FOR BECKY MCHUGHES and
THE MCHUGHES LAW FIRM PLLC
Becky A. McHughes, Esq.

APPEARANCE FOR JOSH E. MCHUGHES
Josh E. McHughes, Esq.

INITIAL DECISION
SETTLEMENT DECREE

On February 8, 2021, I convened a telephone conference with Josh E. McHughes, Esq., and Becky A. McHughes, Esq.
During the call, Josh McHughes and Becky McHughes confirmed the facts in the record. In 2020, they divorced. They also agreed to restructure their professional business relationship. Josh McHughes left The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC. Becky McHughes retained interest in the law firm, and continued to serve as the managing partner. As the managing partner of The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC, Becky McHughes holds a position similar to a corporation’s president or equivalent official. See Domestic Mail Manual § 508.1.5.1.
The parties agree as follows.

  1. Becky McHughes may direct the delivery location of mail addressed to Becky McHughes.
  2. Becky McHughes may direct the delivery of mail addressed to The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC.
  3. Josh McHughes may direct the delivery of mail addressed to Josh McHughes.
  4. If Josh McHughes receives a letter intended for Becky McHughes or The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC, he will call The McHughes Law Firm within 48 hours of receipt and a representative of The McHughes Law Firm will retrieve the letter.
  5. If Becky McHughes or The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC, receive a letter intended for Josh McHughes, they will call him within 48 hours of receipt and he will retrieve the letter.
  6. The parties jointly request the Postal Service take reasonable steps to deliver mail addressed to Becky McHughes or The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC, as directed by Becky McHughes. The parties understand that this request is not binding on the Postal Service.

Their agreement is adopted and is made part of this Settlement Decree. Mail shall be delivered pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
This Initial Decision only addresses how the disputed mail should be delivered by the Postmaster of Little Rock, Arkansas. It does not resolve any other legal disputes between the parties. Further, it does not decide who owns the contents of any disputed mail. Finally, if a future court order directs that a different party is entitled to direct delivery of the mail addressed to The McHughes Law Firm, PLLC, Postal Service regulations provide that the mail will be delivered according to that order. See Postal Operations Manual, § 616.3.
Recommendation
I recommend that the Judicial Officer issue an order to the Postmaster of Little Rock, Arkansas, directing that all mail being held or hereafter received, be delivered as described above in the Initial Decision.

Peter F. Pontzer
Administrative Judge