Hello, guys; welcome back to the channel. I am still Makayla. Process serving is a very important aspect of the legal process whereby defendants are made aware of pending legal actions against them. Most defendants willingly accept legal documents. Below, we discuss five occasions when involvement with the police helped serve legal documents and resulted in success. If you require the service of a Process server in Oklahoma, you should call us at (405) 593-3515, and we won’t let you down.
Assistance in High-Risk Neighborhoods
Process servers working in high-crime areas certainly run some great risks due to possible violence and the general suspiciousness of outsiders by people in those communities. The defendants may feel obliged in those areas of town to resist service out of fear of police contact or even general distrust of the system. Sometimes, it is just the mere presence of the server that draws unnecessary attention, thus escalating into an incident. Besides, the server may not be conversant with the area and hence may end up passing through hostile people or dangerous environments.
One such occasion would be when, in Chicago, a process server was summoned to deliver a subpoena on a defendant residing in an undoubtedly unsafe neighborhood. Fearing injury to himself, the process server requested police cover. Under police escort, the server approached the defendant’s house. The defendant refused to open his door at first but opened it upon seeing the police without further ado. This is a good example where police presence was quite imperative to ensure process servers’ safety while maintaining order in even the most challenging environments.
Ensuring Compliance with Court Orders
Some defendants even go to the extent of taking evasive action to avoid receiving the legal service papers despite there being an outstanding court order for them to accept the same. Others do not open doors while others still feign and use fake information for service in their place. That could mean wasting precious hours in court and growing frustration for the plaintiff. There is often sustained effort on the part of process servers to get at a defendant who is avoiding service.
This can be understood from an occasion that occurred in Los Angeles in which a defendant continued to evade the service of the process related to a civil action against him. Several months later, the court allowed an order of assistance from the police. The police, along with the process server, came to the defendant’s residence. The officers had to intervene when the defendant tried to deny who they were, showing that everything was in order by using a court order with identification details. This not only allowed successful service but also illustrated how police authority can ensure accountability and disrupt avoidance of due process.
Dealing with Aggressive or Hostile Defendants
Process serving can also be hazardous, considering the aggression of the defendants. When faced, the defendants are always threatening and intimidating and may engage one in physical combat. In a case, it may get out of hand when the server is blind-sided or caught in a blind spot. Process serving is many a time done solo. Hence, it is very hazardous to pursue further.
That’s how it went down in Dallas when a server was summoned onto the doorstep of a man alleged to have a bit of a volatile personality. Serving him with court documents previously elicited complaints of threats and intimidation, so police backup was summoned. Two officers accompanied the server to the address of the defendant. Because he refused to accept the service, two officers explained the ramifications of refusal under the law. Their presence also ensured that papers were delivered safely. It further demonstrated how police support can often diffuse hostility, thereby saving a process server from a hostile/combative situation.
Overcoming Evasion Tactics
Some will go all the way and try to actively evade service by all manner of techniques. Popular techniques include changing addresses and even hiding behind family or employees who will deny the presence of such a person. Others will give out fictitious names or will feign to be another person altogether. These are targeted at making it tough for the process servers to find them and serve them with legal papers.
As it happened, in New York City, a process server was working on an extremely evasive business owner who had become subject to fraud. After months of attempting service on the defendant, the process server finally contacted local police. The officers were able to find the defendant through stakeouts and by examining public records. The server then arrived at the defendant’s business with police, who confronted the defendant and finally released the documents upon realizing the police were there. This case indicates the meaningful contribution of law enforcement resources in overcoming avoidant practices and undertaking to prevent uncooperative persons from delaying the processes of justice.
Supporting Service in Public Venues
Public venues have remained quite tricky for process servers, as these are open places and quite unpredictable. There may be crowding that allows the defendants to slip away or freak out, possibly causing a public disturbance. These spots are sensitive because a process server is susceptible to the danger of embarrassment or disturbance to people passing by.
In Miami, a process server was tasked with serving a defendant who worked for a busy retail store. It was assumed that he would not go down without a fight, and this would result in a very public incident. The server coordinated with police to have police officers present who could mediate the situation tactfully. At the store, the officers negotiated the use of a back room to conduct the service in private, away from other customers and employees. Police presence ensured that the defendant accepted the documents calmly without any noise or friction. This is another example of how police maintain order and professionalism when handling sensitive or public situations.
Conclusion
The service process can be complicated at times. Certain cases involve issues of evasion, hostility, and unsafe environments that are hazardous for the servers. This is where police intervention could be quite crucial. To learn more about our Process Serving services in OKC or gain additional insights, please visit us at https://oklahomajudicialprocessservers.com. You can also email us at info@ojpslegal.com. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on our amazing YouTube channel and content.
