Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-01470/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-01470-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 480
Nature of Suit: Consumer Credit
Cause of Action: 15:1681 Fair Credit Reporting Act

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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SCOTT DOZIER, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

FINANCIAL CREDIT NETWORK, ET AL., 

Defendants.

CASE NO. 19-cv-01470-YGR 

ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION 

TO QUASH SERVICE OF SUMMONS 

RE: DKT. NO. 14 

Defendant Financial Credit Network Inc. (“FCN”) specially appeared and filed its motion 

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) to quash servicer of the complaint against it 

based upon defects in the manner of service of process. (Dkt. No. 14.) FCN seeks dismissal on 

the grounds that pro se plaintiff Scott Dozier’s attempt to serve the summons and complaint on 

FCN did not comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h). Plaintiff has not filed any 

opposition to the motion.1 

The undisputed facts are that, on March 21, 2019, plaintiff filed the complaint herein. On 

April 11, 2019, he filed a proof of service stating that “a copy of the Verified Complaint and 

Summons and Notice of Interested Parties was sent to the parties of record via U.S. certified 

mail.” (Dkt. No. 10.) The mailing to FCN was to an address in Visalia, California. (Id.) No 

proof of service in any other manner upon FCN has been filed with the Court. FCN submits 

evidence that it has never received a copy of the summons and complaint via personal delivery. 

(Declaration of Susan Morado In Support of Motion to Quash Service of Summons and 

Complaint, Dkt. No. 14-2, ¶ 3.) FCN never agreed to accept service by certified mail. (Id. at ¶ 4.) 

FCN is a California corporation with its principal place of business in California. (Id. at ¶ 2.) 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h)(1) governs the service of a corporation within a 

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 The proof of service on FCN’s motion herein states that it was served by electronic mail 

and U.S. Postal mail on May 3, 2019 at the addresses of record for plaintiff. 

Case 4:19-cv-01470-YGR Document 17 Filed 05/31/19 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

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judicial district of the United States and provides that service must be made “by delivering a copy 

of the summons and of the complaint to an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent 

authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process and--if the agent is one 

authorized by statute and the statute so requires--by also mailing a copy of each to the defendant.” 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (h)(1)(B). Rule 4(e)(1) further allows service of the summons in the manner 

approved under the state law of the state where the district court is located or service is made—

here, California. California law likewise requires service through personal delivery of the 

summons and complaint. (See e.g., Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 415.10 [“[a] summons may be served 

by personal delivery of a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the person to be served.”], 

§ 415.95 [requiring the summons be personally delivered to the physical location of the 

business].)2

 

It follows that plaintiff’s service on defendant corporation FCN by certified mail only was 

ineffective. Absent waiver of the defect by FCN, the attempt to serve the summons and complaint 

must be quashed, and plaintiff must effect service properly. 

The Court therefore GRANTS the motion and QUASHES the service of summons and 

complaint as stated in the proof of service dated April 21, 2019. Plaintiff must serve the summons 

and complaint in a manner consistent with Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

Plaintiff shall have until July 1, 2019, to file a proof of service on FCN in the manner required. 

The Court further notes that there is an initial case management conference set for July 15, 

2019, at 2:00 p.m. before this Court. Should the parties require additional time to prepare for the 

conference and submit case management statements timely, they shall submit a stipulation 

requesting a new date no later than July 8, 2019. 

The Court advises plaintiff that the District Court has produced a guide for selfrepresented/pro se litigants called Representing Yourself in Federal Court: A Handbook for Pro Se 

Litigants, which provides instructions on how to proceed at every stage of a case, including 

discovery, motions, and trial. It is available electronically online 

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 Since the undisputed evidence establishes that FCN is a California corporation, Cal. Civ. 

P. § 415.40, which permits service on a foreign corporation by first class mail, return receipt 

requested, does not apply. 

Case 4:19-cv-01470-YGR Document 17 Filed 05/31/19 Page 2 of 3
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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

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(http://cand.uscourts.gov/prosehandbook) or in hard copy, free of charge, from the Clerk’s Office. 

The Court also advises plaintiff that assistance is available through the Legal Help Center. 

Parties can make an appointment to speak with an attorney who can provide basic legal 

information and assistance. The Help Center does not see people on a “drop-in” basis, and will 

not be able to represent parties in their cases. There is no charge for this service. To make an 

appointment with the Legal Help Center, you may: (1) sign up in person on the appointment book 

outside the Legal Help Center offices at the San Francisco Courthouse (15th Floor, Room 2796) or 

Oakland Courthouse (Room 470S); (2) call 415-782-8982; or (3) email 

federalprobonoproject@sfbar.org. The Help Center’s website is available at 

https://cand.uscourts.gov/legal-help. 

This terminates Docket No. 14. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 31, 2019 

 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 4:19-cv-01470-YGR Document 17 Filed 05/31/19 Page 3 of 3