Practice point: Service of process pursuant to the affix-and-mail provisions of CPLR
308(4) is only permitted where service by personal delivery under CPLR
308(1) or by delivery to a person of suitable age and discretion and a
subsequent mailing pursuant to CPLR 308(2) cannot be made with due
diligence. Satisfying the due
diligence requirement entails a showing that the process
server made genuine inquiries about the defendant's whereabouts and
place of employmentt. Here, the process server's testimony that he inquired as to the
defendant's whereabouts from a neighbor was not credible, as he was
unable to provide any description at all of the neighbor, not even the gender. The affidavit of service referred to a "person
spoken to," but provided no description, although there were spaces to insert the person's gender, skin color, hair color, approximate
age, height, and weight.
Student note: Where the defendant's only participation in the action is the submission
of a motion to vacate a default judgment for lack of personal
jurisdiction, the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction is not waived.
Case: Cadlerock Joint Venture, L.P. v. Kierstedt, NY Slip Op 05147 (2d Dept. 2014)
Here is the decision.
Tomorrow's issue: Spoilation, the law, and videotape.
