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Rule 4. Summons.
(a) Issuance. Upon the filing of the complaint, the clerk
shall forthwith issue a summons and cause it to be delivered for service to a sheriff or
to a person appointed by the court or authorized by law to serve process.
(b) Form. The summons shall be styled in the name of the
court and shall be dated and signed by the clerk; be under the seal of the court; contain
the names of the parties; be directed to the defendant; state the name and address of the
plaintiff's attorney, if any, otherwise the address of the plaintiff; and the time within
which these rules require the defendant to appear, file a pleading, and defend and shall
notify him that in case of his failure to do so, judgment by default may be entered
against him for the relief demanded in the complaint.
(c) By Whom Served. Service of summons shall be made by
(1) a sheriff of the county where the service is to be made, or his or her
deputy;
(2) any person not less than eighteen years of age appointed for the purpose of
serving summons by either the court in which the action is filed or a court in the county
in which service is to be made;
(3) any person authorized to serve process under the law of the place outside
this state where service is made; or
(4) in the event of service by mail pursuant to subdivision (d)(8) of this rule,
by the plaintiff or an attorney of record for the plaintiff.
(d) Personal Service Inside the State. A copy of the
summons and of the complaint shall be served together. The plaintiff shall furnish the
person making service with such copies as are necessary. Service shall be made as follows:
(1) Upon an individual, other than an infant by delivering a copy of the summons
and complaint to him personally, or if he refuses to receive it, by offering a copy
thereof to him, or by leaving a copy thereof at his dwelling house or usual place of
abode with some person residing therein who is at least 14 years of age, or by
delivering a copy thereof to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive
service of summons.
(2) When the defendant is under the age of 14 years, service must be upon a
parent or guardian having the care and control of the infant, or upon any other person
having the care and control of the infant and with whom the infant lives. When the infant
is at least 14 years of age, service shall be upon him.
(3) Where the defendant is a person for whom a plenary, limited or temporary
guardian has been appointed, the service must be upon the individual and the guardian. If
the person for whom the guardian has been appointed is confined in a public or private
institution for the treatment of the mentally ill, service shall be upon the
superintendent or administrator of such institution and upon the guardian.
(4) Where the defendant is confined in a state or federal penitentiary or
correctional facility, service must be upon the keeper or superintendent of the
institution who shall deliver a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant. A copy
of the summons and complaint shall also be delivered to the spouse of the defendant, if
any, unless the court otherwise directs.
(5) Upon a domestic or foreign corporation or upon a partnership, limited
liability company, or any unincorporated association subject to suit under a common name,
by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an officer, partner other than a
limited partner, managing or general agent, or any agent authorized by appointment or by
law to receive service of summons.
(6) Upon the United States or any officer or agency thereof, by service upon any
person and in such manner as is authorized by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or by
other federal law.
(7) Upon a state or municipal corporation or other governmental organization or
agency thereof, subject to suit, by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the
chief executive officer thereof, or other person designated by appointment or by statute
to receive such service, or upon the Attorney General of the state if such service is
accompanied by an affidavit of a party or his attorney that such officer or designated
person is unknown or cannot be located.
(8)
(A) Service of a summons and complaint upon a defendant of any class referred to
in paragraphs (1) through (5), and (7) of this subdivision of this rule may be made by the
plaintiff or an attorney of record for the plaintiff by any form of mail addressed to the
person to be served with a return receipt requested and delivery restricted to the
addressee or the agent of the addressee. The addressee must be a natural person specified
by name. Service pursuant to this paragraph shall not be the basis for the entry of a
default or judgment by default unless the record contains a return receipt signed by the
addressee or the agent of the addressee or a returned envelope, postal document or
affidavit by a postal employee reciting or showing refusal of the process by the
addressee. If delivery of mailed process is refused, the plaintiff or attorney making such
service, promptly upon receipt of notice of such refusal, shall mail to the defendant by
first class mail a copy of the summons and complaint and a notice that despite such
refusal the case will proceed and that judgment by default may be rendered against him
unless he appears to defend the suit. Any such default or judgment by default may be set
aside pursuant to Rule 55 (c) if the addressee demonstrates to the court that the return
receipt was signed or delivery was refused by someone other than the addressee.
(B) Alternatively, service of a summons and complaint upon a defendant of any
class referred to in paragraphs (1)-(5) and (7) of this subdivision of this rule may be
made by the plaintiff by mailing a copy of the summons and the complaint by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, to the person to be served, together with two copies of a notice
and acknowledgement conforming substantially to a form adopted by the Supreme Court and a
return envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the sender. If no acknowledgement of
service is received by the sender within twenty days after the date of mailing, service of
such summons and complaint shall be made pursuant to subdivision (c)(1)-(3) of this rule
in the manner prescribed by subdivisions (d)(1)-(5) and (d)(7). Unless good cause is shown
for not doing so the court shall order the payment of the costs of personal service by the
person served if such person does not complete and return within twenty days after
mailing, the notice and acknowledgement of receipt of summons. The notice and
acknowledgement of receipt of summons and complaint shall be executed under oath or
affirmation.
(e) Other Service. Whenever the law of this state
authorizes service outside this state, the service, when reasonably calculated to give
actual notice, may be made:
(1) By personal delivery in the same manner prescribed for service within this
state;
(2) In any manner prescribed by the law of the place in which service is made in
that place in an action in any of its courts of general jurisdiction;
(3) By mail as provided in subdivision (d)(8) of this rule;
(4) As directed by a foreign authority in response to a letter rogatory or
pursuant to the provisions of any treaty or convention pertaining to the service of a
document in a foreign country;
(5) As directed by the court.
(f) Service Upon Defendant Whose Identity or Whereabouts Is Unknown.
(1) Where it appears by the affidavit of a party or his attorney that, after
diligent inquiry, the identity or whereabouts of a defendant remains unknown, service
shall be by warning order issued by the clerk and published weekly for two consecutive
weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in a county wherein the action is filed
and by mailing a copy of the complaint and warning order to such defendant at his last
known address, if any, by any form of mail with delivery restricted to the addressee or
the agent of the addressee. This subsection shall not apply to actions against unknown
tort-feasors.
(2) In all actions in which the plaintiff has been granted leave to proceed as
an indigent without prepayment of costs, where it appears by the affidavit of a party or
his attorney that, after diligent inquiry, the whereabouts of a defendant remains unknown,
service shall be by warning order issued by the clerk and conspicuously posted for a
continuous period of 30 days at the courthouse or courthouses of the county wherein the
action is filed and by mailing by the plaintiff or his attorney of a copy of the complaint
and warning order to the defendant at his last known address, if any, by any form of mail
with delivery restricted to the addressee or the agent of the addressee.
(g) Proof of Service. The person effecting service shall make proof
thereof to the clerk within the time during which the person served must respond to the
summons. If service is made by a sheriff or his or her deputy, proof may be made by
executing a certificate of service or return contained in the same document as the
summons. If service is made by a person other than a sheriff or his or her deputy, the
person shall make affidavit thereof, and if service has been by mail, shall attach to the
affidavit a return receipt, envelope, affidavit or other writing required by Rule 4(d)(8).
Proof of service in a foreign country, if effected pursuant to the provisions of a treaty
or convention as provided in Rule 4(e)(4), shall be made in accordance with the applicable
treaty or convention.
(h) Amendment. At any time in its discretion and upon such
terms as it deems just, the court may allow any summons or proof of service thereof to be
amended unless it clearly appears that material prejudice would result to the substantial
rights of the party against whom the summons is issued.
(i) Time Limit for Service. If service of the summons is
not made upon a defendant within 120 days after the filing of the complaint, the action
shall be dismissed as to that defendant without prejudice upon motion or upon the court's
initiative. If a motion to extend is made within 120 days of the filing of the suit, the
time for service may be extended by the court upon a showing of good cause. If service is
made by mail pursuant to this rule, service shall be deemed to have been made for the
purpose of this provision as of the date on which the process was accepted or refused.
This paragraph shall not apply to service in a foreign country pursuant to Rule 4(e) or to
complaints filed against unknown tortfeasors.
(j) Service by Warning Order. In any case in which a party
seeks a judgment which affects or may affect the rights of persons who are not and who
need not be subject personally to the jurisdiction of the court, the clerk shall issue a
warning order. The warning order shall state the caption of the pleadings, a description
of the property or other res to be affected by the judgment of the court, and it shall
warn any interested person to appear within 30 days from the first date of publication of
the warning order or be barred from answering or asserting his interest. The warning order
shall be published weekly for at least two weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in
the county in which the court is held. No default judgment shall be taken pursuant to this
procedure unless the party seeking the judgment or his attorney has filed with the court
an affidavit stating that thirty days have elapsed since the first publication of the
warning order. In any case in which an interested person is known to the party seeking
judgment or his attorney, the affidavit shall also state that 30 days have elapsed since a
letter enclosing a copy of the warning order and the pleadings was sent to the known
interested person at his last known address by a form of mail restricting delivery to the
addressee or the agent of the addressee.
(k) Service of Other Writs and Papers. Whenever any rule or
statute requires service upon any person, firm, corporation or other entity of notices,
writs, or papers other than a summons and complaint, including without limitation writs of
garnishment, such notices, writs or papers may be served in the manner prescribed in this
Rule for service of a summons and complaint. Provided, however, any writ, notice or paper
requiring direct seizure of property, such as a writ of assistance, writ of execution, or
order of delivery shall be made as otherwise provided by law.
Rule 5. Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers.
(a) Service: When Required. Except as otherwise provided in
these rules, every pleading and every other paper, including all written communications
with the court, filed subsequent to the complaint, except one which may be heard ex parte,
shall be served upon each of the parties, unless the court orders otherwise because of
numerous parties. No service need be made upon parties in default for failure to appear,
except that pleadings asserting new or additional claims for relief against them shall be
served in the manner provided for service of summons in Rule 4. Any pleading asserting new
or additional claims for relief against any party who has appeared shall be served in
accordance with subdivision (b) of this rule. In an action begun by seizure of property,
in which no person need be or is named as defendant, any service required to be made prior
to the filing of an answer, claim or appearance shall be made upon the person having
custody or possession of the property at the time of its seizure.
(b) Service: How Made.
(1) Whenever under this rule or any statute service is required or permitted to
be made upon a party represented by an attorney, the service shall be upon the attorney,
except that service shall be upon the party if the court so orders or the action is one in
which a final judgment has been entered and the court has continuing jurisdiction.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subdivision, service upon the
attorney or upon the party shall be made by delivering a copy to him or by sending it to
him by regular mail at his last known address or, if no address is known, by leaving it
with the clerk of the court. Delivery of a copy for purposes of this paragraph means
handing it to the attorney or to the party; by leaving it at his office with his clerk or
other person in charge thereof; or, if the office is closed or the person has no office,
leaving it at his dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person residing therein
who is at least 14 years of age. Service by mail is presumptively complete upon mailing.
When service is permitted upon an attorney, such service may be effected by electronic
transmission, provided that the attorney being served has facilities within his office to
receive and reproduce verbatim electronic transmissions, or such service may be made by a
commercial delivery service which maintains permanent records of actual delivery.
(3) If a final judgment or decree has been entered and the court has continuing
jurisdiction, service upon a party by mail shall comply with the requirements of Rule
4(d)(8)(A).
(c) Filing.
(1) All papers after the complaint required to be served upon a party or his
attorney shall be filed with the clerk of the court either before service or within a
reasonable time thereafter. The clerk shall note the date and time of filing thereon.
However, depositions, interrogatories, requests for production or inspection, proposed
findings of fact, proposed conclusions of law, trial briefs, proposed jury instructions,
and responses thereto may, but need not be filed with the clerk unless ordered by the
court. When such discovery documents are relevant to a motion, they or the relevant
portions thereof shall be submitted with the motion and attached as an exhibit unless such
documents have already been filed. The clerk shall not refuse to accept for filing any
paper presented for that purpose solely because it is not presented in the proper form.
(2) If the clerk's office has a facsimile machine, the clerk shall accept
facsimile transmissions of any paper filed under this rule and may charge a fee of $1.00
per page. Any signature appearing on a facsimile copy shall be presumed authentic until
proven otherwise. The clerk shall stamp or otherwise mark a facsimile copy as filed on the
date and time that it is received on the clerk's facsimile machine during the regular
hours of the clerk's office or, if received outside those hours, at the time the office
opens on the next business day.
(d) Filing With the Judge. The judge may permit papers or
pleadings to be filed with him, in which event he shall note thereon the filing date and
forthwith transmit them to the office of the clerk. If the judge permits filing by
facsimile transmission, the provisions of subdivision (c)(2) of this rule shall apply.
(e) Proof of Service. Every pleading, paper or other
document required by this rule to be served upon a party or his attorney, shall contain a
statement by the party or attorney filing same that a copy thereof has been served in
accordance with this rule, stating therein the date and method of service and, if by mail,
the name and address of each person served.
Rule 45. Subpoena.
(a) Form and Issuance. Every subpoena shall be issued by
the clerk under seal of court, shall state the name of the court and the title of the
action, and shall command each person to whom it is directed to appear and give testimony
at the time and place therein specified.
(b) For Production of Documentary Evidence. A subpoena may
also command the person to whom it is directed to produce the books, papers, documents, or
tangible things designated therein; but the court, upon motion made promptly and in any
event at or before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance therewith, may (1)
quash or modify the subpoena if it is unreasonable or oppressive or (2) condition denial
of the motion upon the advancement by the person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued of
the reasonable cost of producing the books, papers, documents or tangible things.
(c) Service. A subpoena for a trial or hearing or for a
deposition may be served at any place within this State in the manner prescribed in this
subdivision. A subpoena for a trial or hearing or for a deposition may be served by the
sheriff of the county in which it is to served, by his deputy, or by any other person who
is not a party and is not less than eighteen (18) years of age. Service shall be
made by delivering a copy of the subpoena to the person named therein; provided, however,
that a subpoena for a trial or hearing may be served by telephone by a sheriff or his
deputy when the trial or hearing is to be held in the county of the witness' residence. A
subpoena for a trial or hearing or for a deposition may also be served by an attorney of
record for a party by any form of mail addressed to the person to be served with a return
receipt requested and delivery restricted to the addressee or agent of the addressee.
(d) Subpoena for Trial or Hearing. At the request of any
party the clerk of the court before which the action is pending shall issue a subpoena for
a trial or hearing, or a subpoena for the production at a trial or hearing of documentary
evidence, signed and sealed, but otherwise in blank, to the party requesting it, who shall
fill it in before service. A witness, regardless of his county of residence, shall be
obligated to attend for examination on trial or hearing in a civil action anywhere in this
State when properly served with a subpoena at least two (2) days prior to the trial or
hearing. The court may grant leave for a subpoena to be issued within two (2) days of the
trial or hearing. The subpoena must be accompanied by a tender of a witness fee calculated
at the rate of $30.00 per day for attendance and $0.25 per mile for travel from the
witness' residence to the place of the trial or hearing. In the event of telephone service
of a subpoena by a sheriff or his deputy, the party who caused the witness to be
subpoenaed shall tender the fee prior to or at the time of the witness' appearance at the
trial or hearing. If a continuance is granted and if the witness is provided adequate
notice thereof, re-service of the subpoena shall not be necessary. Any person subpoenaed
for examination at the trial or hearing shall remain in attendance until excused by the
party causing him to be subpoenaed or, after giving testimony, by the court.
(e) Subpoena for Taking Depositions: Place of Examination.
Upon the filing of a notice of deposition upon oral examination pursuant to Rule 30(b),
the clerk of the court in which the action is pending shall, upon the request of the party
giving notice, issue a subpoena in accordance with the notice. The subpoena may command
the person to whom it is directed to produce and permit inspection and copying of
designated books, papers, documents, or tangible things which constitute or contain
matters within the scope of the examination permitted by Rule 26(b), but in that event the
subpoena will be subject to the provisions of Rule 26(c) and subdivision (b) of the rule.
The witness must be properly served at least five (5) business days prior to the date of
the deposition, unless the court grants leave for subpoena to be issued within that
period. The subpoena must be accompanied by a tender of a witness fee calculated at the
rate of $30.00 per day for attendance and $0.25 per mile for travel from the witness'
residence to the place of the deposition. The person to whom the subpoena is directed may,
within ten (10) days after the service thereof or on or before the time specified in the
subpoena for compliance if such time is less than ten (10) days after service, serve upon
the attorney causing the subpoena to be issued written objection to inspection or copying
of any or all of the designated materials. If objection is made, the party causing the
subpoena to be issued shall not be entitled to inspect and copy the materials except
pursuant to an order of the court before which the deposition may be used. The party
causing the subpoena to be issued may, if objection has been made, move, upon notice to
the deponent, for an order at any time before or during the taking of the deposition. A
witness subpoenaed under this subdivision may be required to attend a deposition at any
place within 100 miles of where he resides, or is employed, or transacts his business in
person, or at such other convenient place as is fixed by an order of court.
(f) Depositions for Use in Out-of-State Proceedings. Any
party to a proceeding pending in a court of record outside this State may take the
deposition of any person who may be found within this State. A party who has filed a
notice of deposition upon oral examination in an out-of-state proceeding, which complies
with Rule 30(b), may file a certified copy thereof with the circuit clerk of the county in
which the deposition is to be taken; whereupon, the clerk shall issue a subpoena in
accordance with the notice. All provisions of this rule shall apply to such subpoenas. Any
objection shall be heard by a circuit or chancery judge of the county in which the
deposition is to be taken.
(g) Contempt. When a witness fails to attend in obedience
to a subpoena or intentionally evades the service of a subpoena by concealment or
otherwise, the court may issue a warrant for arresting and bringing the witness before the
court at a time and place to be fixed in the warrant, to give testimony and answer for
contempt. |