D.C. Court Orders Text Message and Email Service of Process on Evasive Defendant

Multiple attempts at the woman’s residence revealed she was likely working as a government contractor on an Air Force base with restricted access.

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES, July 28, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Today a D.C. Superior Court Judge ruled that a temporary protective order could be served by text and email to a woman accused of stalking after multiple failed attempts by the process server to subpoena her in person.

According to ServeNow¹, Judge Laura Cordero issued the order on July 28, 2015 after the process server, Torri Schaffer of Torri’s Legal Service, tried for weeks to serve a protective order on a woman who was allegedly harassing a man she met on Match.com.

After a few dates, the man broke it off with her but the woman allegedly sent him hundreds of text messages and emails, including some sexually explicit photos and messages, and even tried to fake a pregnancy.

The woman allegedly called him “in some cases more than 200 times in one night, and even using an app to call from new numbers after her number had been blocked.” She even sent him “photos of positive pregnancy tests paired with false claims that she was pregnant,” the article claimed.

“Over 100 emails, 175 calls using the number disguising app, 360 calls in total, and over 280 text messages were received.” ServeNow reported.

“Multiple attempts at the woman’s residence revealed she was likely working as a government contractor on an Air Force base with restricted access. This led Judge Cordero to order the documents to be served over email and text messages,” Legal Talk Network reported².

The judge noted in the order that: “In the divorce context, the Court of Appeals has required a petitioner to provide certain information before the Court may enter an order authorizing alternative service.”

“Petitioner has demonstrated to the Court that he has made diligent efforts to serve Respondent,” Judge Cordero wrote, detailing all attempts made to serve the woman, including the woman reneging on her arrangement to meet the process server to receive the documents once the petitioner notified her that she would be served a restraining order.

“Petitioner shall serve Respondent through the two email addresses Respondent utilized to contact Petitioner and the telephone number for the mobile telephone Respondent utilized to contact the process server and the Court,” Cordero wrote and included specific language to include in the email and text.

The process server complied with the judge’s instructions and wrote the following email, which was sent to several email addresses:

Email text: Ms. [redacted], My name is Torri Schaffer and I am the president of Torri’s Legal Services, a professional process service company. Pursuant to the July 28, 2015 order of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, this email constitutes alternative means of legal service. The attached documents inform you that: A Temporary Protection Order has been entered against you prohibiting you from contacting [redacted], according to the terms listed therein. You are required to appear at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 500 Indiana Avenue, Washington, DC 20001, Courtroom 114 on August 4, 2015 at 8:30am for a hearing on a Civil Protection Order. Thanks and Have a Great Day, Torri Schaffer, President

She received confirmation that the emails went through by successful delivery notifications.

She then sent the same notice via text message

“Private investigators have an important role to play in cases like this.” says John A. DeMarr, P.I., a licensed California private investigator³ since 1988. “Whether it is locating the defendant or witnesses for service of process or serving the papers on the individual the services of a qualified experienced investigator can make all the difference.”

“Private investigators can work cases like this directly with attorneys, and also independently,” says DeMarr.

To learn more about what a private investigator can do to assist you, contact John A. DeMarr, P.I., at (877) 433-6277.

Or go to: http://www.demarr.com

John DeMarr
John A DeMarr, P.I.
877 493 3463
email us here

¹ http://www.serve-now.com/articles/1951/getting-serious-about-service-of-process-by-social-media
² http://legaltalknetwork.com/temporary-protective-order-served-via-text-message/
³ http://www.demarr.com/?utm_source=einpw&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_content=servetext&utm_campaign=EIN