Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00524/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00524-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-(Citizenship)

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

Plaintiff(s),

v.

JERRY C. APODACA, ET AL.,

Defendant(s).

___________________________________/

No. C-06-0524 JCS

ORDER DENYING EX PARTE MOTION

FOR ORDER FOR PUBLICATION OF

SUMMONS

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

Defendants and Cross-Claimants Mallory P. Hill and Coventry Capital Management Limited

(the “Hill Defendants”) have applied to this Court for an order for service of summons by

publication [Docket No. 27.]. The motion is DENIED without prejudice for the following reasons.

California Code of Civil Procedure Section 415.50 permits service by publication. Service

by publication must be in a newspaper that is “most likely” to give actual notice to the party to be

served. C.C.P. § 415.50.

In this case, actual service was only attempted twice – at a private post office box that Mr.

Apodaca apparently cancelled in 2005, located at 8941 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California,

and at 914 Westwood Boulevard, again on a private mail box at Mailboxes, Etc. 

These efforts are insufficient. First, in addition to the two addresses listed, the Court has

received mail from an additional address that is reflected in the docket in the instant case. [Docket

No. 26.] No research regarding that address has been provided to the Court. Second, Plaintiff,

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., indicated that it has had e-mail contact with the Apodaca Parties. There

was no effort described in the declaration of diligence in this matter to indicate whether any e-mail

Case 3:06-cv-00524-JCS Document 34 Filed 05/16/06 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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contact was attempted by the Hill Defendants. Moreover, the Court’s records indicate various

telephone numbers for Mr. Apodaca, and no effort has been made regarding those telephone

numbers. Mail addressed to Mr. Apodaca at 914 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California has

not been returned – indicating that this mail box is indeed active. Finally, no information has been

provided to the Court on whether Mr. Apodaca is the only proper person (or is indeed a proper

person) to receive service on behalf of Coventry Capital, Ltd. 

Under all of these circumstances, attempts on two occasions to serve Mr. Apodaca are

inadequate to demonstrate diligence under the statute. Further efforts must be made regarding the

other addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mails identifying this motion. In addition, because the

Westwood Boulevard mail box is still active, further efforts to serve Mr. Apodaca at that address

may be appropriate. 

Because the motion is being denied, the Court need not address other issues raised by the

instant application. However, the Court notes that the instant application requested notice by

publication in The Recorder. The application does not indicate the circulation of The Recorder or

the scope of its subscribers. While the Court would accept a publication in a newspaper of broad

circulation, such as The Los Angeles Times, in order to justify another publication detailed

information must be provided.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 16, 2006 ______________________________

JOSEPH C. SPERO 

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:06-cv-00524-JCS Document 34 Filed 05/16/06 Page 2 of 2