So, you’re being sued, and a process server is attempting to locate you. Think that avoiding them will keep the lawsuit from happening?
Think again.
Avoiding a process server is one of the easiest ways to almost guarantee you won’t win the case, no matter what evidence you have. Judges do not appreciate their court schedules being mixed up by delays caused by case parties avoiding service. Just a few of the consequences you may face if you choose to evade service include:
Default judgement for the plaintiff
If you never receive the process for the case and don’t show up on the scheduled dates, the judge can issue what’s known as a default judgment. A default judgment basically means that the plaintiff wins, and you as the losing party will be responsible for the damages or money they claimed you owed, plus any extra court fees.
Increased court and attorney fees
All of the fees that accumulate during court cases will start stacking on top of each other when a case party avoids the service of process. In addition to process service fees from multiple attempts to hunt down the elusive litigant, there will also be additional attorney fees, fines, and court costs. As the person avoiding service and holding up the case, you’ll probably end up being responsible for all of those extra expenses.
Being charged and possibly convicted with contempt of court
Avoid service of process for long enough, and you can be charged with contempt of court for holding up the legal process and disrespecting the authority of the court system! If convicted of contempt of court, you could be facing fines and even jail time.
Damage to your professional and personal reputation
It won’t be long before your friends and family realize that you’re evading a process server and they’ll want to know why. Pretty soon, facts and rumors about the case and your involvement will fly, leading to possible career-ruining damage to your professional reputation, along with disappointment and mistrust from personal contacts.
If you’re working cases in Jacksonville and dealing with elusive defendants, contact the process service professionals at Accurate Serve® of Jacksonville for help locating them. Our skilled team has the experience you want when people just don’t want to be found. Call us at (904) 735-7810 or send us a work request online to get your case back on the right track today!
