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The Tough Job of Process Servers
Date: November 25, 1992
Title: The Tough Job of Process Servers
Author: Andrea Sachs
Subject: Torts and Retorts
Being spat at is part of the job. So is having people try to run you over with their car, or slam doors in your face. Who are the objects of this scorn? Process servers, who are indispensable to lawyers who need official documents–orders, notices of motion and subpoenas–served on parties in litigation.
Most people will accept papers peacefully. But for seeking to evade the long arm of the law, a little creativity is in order. Two years ago, Jim Swickle, the owner of J & K Associates in Somerville, tried in vain to serve a woman in Phillipsburg. “I had been staking out the place nightly for two weeks,” recalls Swickle. “I could tell someone was home, but no one would answer the door.” So he came up with a plan. On Halloween night, he got dressed up like a devil, complete with a mask, a tail and tights. “She was passing out candy, so I tucked the papers in my backside. I went up to the door. She said, ”What a cute costume!” I knew I had her, and asked her for her name. I then said “trick or treat,” and handed her the documents, which she threw back at me like a frisbee.” Nevertheless, the service was made.
Sometimes, the work can be dangerous. Robert Taylor, the owner of Teamco in East Brunswick, staked out a government official several years ago who had been evading service. Taylor waited outside of the man”s home until he got into his car. When Taylor proffered the papers, “he came towards me with a hateful expression on his face that I”ll never forget. He hit me with his car, but luckily it was a glancing blow. He stopped the car and I served the subpoena. I was in a state of shock.”
Process servers learn the tricks of the trade to minimize such occurrences. Says Peter Feldman, president of the Hackensack branch of Serving By Irving, “To get into big companies and not to get caught, you walk by security guards like you belong there. Once you get in, you can start looking for the person you want to serve.” Doctors are notoriously resistant, says Feldman, but he”s even gone into operating rooms in order to serve them.
Sometimes, New Jersey process servers find themselves tracking down celebrities. Feldman has served Julio Iglesias, Donald Trump and singer Kid Creole, as well as the man who parachuted into Shea Stadium during the World Series. But few servers can match Taylor”s most exotic service: the lion tamer at Great Adventure. And yes, the lions were all in attendance.
Each process serving company charges different fees and has different specialties, so it”s worth shopping around. Guaranteed Subpoena Inc. in Union is the largest process server in New Jersey, serving from 700 to 1,000 papers a week. “If we don”t serve, you don”t pay,” says Lenore Netschert, the office manager. “Lawyers like that because they don”t pay for attempts, even though we”ll try ten times if necessary.”
Callahan Lawyers Service in Hackensack is a smaller family business. Says Danny Callahan, the vice president, “We”re as efficient and strong as the big guys in the business, but because we”re a family operation, you get personal service. Taylor at Teamco, on the other hand, is a private detective. “That gives us a leg up on the others who don”t have the experience in investigation.”
Serving By Irving and J & K Associates both specialize in finding hard-to-locate people. Says Irving Botwinick of Serving by Irving, “There are people who have disappeared. They own a beautiful home, but the phone has been disconnected and they”ve vanished. There will be a bunch of summonses outside of their door.” u
