Young et al v. Chalmers Automotive, LLC et al

Filing 56

ORDER Granting Plaintiffs' 48 Motion for Alternate Service on Defendant Vernice Chalmers. Signed by District Judge Matthew F. Leitman. (HMon)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ANTHONY YOUNG, et al.,
Plaintiffs,

Case No. 16-cv-14154
Hon. Matthew F. Leitman

v.
CHALMERS AUTOMOTIVE, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.
_______________________________________________________________________/
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR ALTERNATE
SERVICE ON DEFENDANT VERNICE CHALMERS (ECF #48)
In this action, Plaintiffs allege that, among other things, Defendant Vernice
Chalmers converted certain funds belonging to Plaintiffs that were to be used to build a
custom Mercedes-Benz luxury van. (See Sec. Am. Compl., ECF #45.) On March 7, 2019,
Plaintiffs filed an ex parte motion asking the Court to allow them to serve Chalmers with
a copy of the Summons and Second Amended Complaint through alternative service. (See
Mot., ECF #48.)
In support of the motion, Plaintiffs attached evidence that (1) they attempted to serve
Chalmers at her last known address on multiple occasions without success and (2) they had
verified Chalmers’ address through multiple means, including federal court filings. (See
id.) Plaintiffs say that they first attempted to serve Chalmers by sending a copy of the
Second Amended Complaint, Summons, and a request to waive service of a summons to
her last known address by United States Mail. (See id. at ¶¶2-3, Pg. ID 641-62; see also
ECF #48-2.) Plaintiffs say that Chalmers did not respond to that correspondence. (See id.)

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Plaintiffs also have provided evidence that they hired a process server to serve Chalmers
personally at her last known address but that those attempts were not successful. (See id.
at ¶¶ 6-7.) In an affidavit attached to Plaintiffs’ motion, the process server explained that
she unsuccessfully attempted to serve Chalmers at Chalmers’ last known address on six
different days at different times of the day. (See ECF #48-5 at Pg. ID 662.) Finally,
Plaintiffs have provided evidence that they verified Chalmers’ address through internet
searches, bank records, and bankruptcy schedules filed in the federal bankruptcy of
Defendant Albert Chalmers (Chalmers’ husband). (See ECF ## 48-6, 48-7, and 48-8, and
40-2.)
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e)(1) provides that “an individual may be served
in a judicial district of the United States by following state law for serving a summons in
an action brought in the courts of general jurisdiction in the state where the district court is
located or where service is made.” Michigan Court Rule 2.105 governs service of process
in the State of Michigan. It provides in relevant part that process may be served on a
resident or non-resident individual by:
1. delivering a summons and a copy of the complaint to the
defendant personally; or
2. sending a summons and a copy of the complaint by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and
delivery restricted to the addressee. Service is made when
the defendant acknowledges receipt of the mail. A copy of
the return receipt signed by the defendant must be attached
to proof showing service under subrule (A)(2).
Mich. Ct. Rule 2.105(A)(1)-(2). “On a showing that service of process cannot reasonably
be made as provided by this rule, [a] court may by order permit service of process to be

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made in any other manner reasonably calculated to give [a] defendant actual notice of the
proceedings and an opportunity to be heard.” Mich. Ct. Rule 2.105(I)(1). “A request for
an order under [Michigan Court Rule 2.105(I)] must be made in a verified motion dated
not more than 14 days before it is filed. The motion must set forth sufficient facts to show
that process cannot be served under this rule and must state the defendant's address or last
known address, or that no address of the defendant is known.” Mich. Ct. Rule 2.105(I)(2).
In Michigan, substituted service “is not an automatic right.” Krueger v. Williams,
300 N.W.2d 910, 915 (Mich. 1981). “A truly diligent search for an absentee defendant is
absolutely necessary to supply a fair foundation for and legitimacy to the ordering of
substituted service.” Id. at 919.
The Court is persuaded that Plaintiffs have made diligent efforts to find and serve
Chalmers personally with a copy of the Summons and Second Amended Complaint. Their
process server has unsuccessfully attempted to serve Chalmers personally at her last known
address on six occasions. And the process server attempted service on different days of
the week and at different times of the day. In addition, Plaintiffs requested that Chalmers
waive service, but Chalmers did not respond to that request. Under these circumstances,
substituted service is warranted.
Accordingly, for all the reasons stated above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that
Plaintiffs’ ex pare motion for alternative service (ECF #48) is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT, by no later than April 19, 2019, Plaintiffs
shall serve Chalmers by doing both of the following: (1) mailing the Second Amended
Complaint, Summons, and this order to Chalmers’ last known address by registered or

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certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivery restricted to the addressee, and (2)
tacking or firmly affixing the Second Amended Complaint, Summons, and this order to the
door at Chalmers’ last known address in a manner consistent with Michigan Court Rule
2.106. Plaintiffs shall file a Proof of Service with the Court by no later than April 26,
2019.
Chalmers shall answer or take other action permitted by law or court rule within
twenty-one (21) days of service as described in this order. The failure to answer the Second
Amended Complaint or take any other action may result in the Court entering a default
and/or default judgment against Chalmers.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Matthew F. Leitman
MATTHEW F. LEITMAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Dated: April 2, 2019

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the parties
and/or counsel of record on April 2, 2019, by electronic means and/or ordinary mail.
s/Holly A. Monda
Case Manager
[phone]

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