Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_24-cv-02674/USCOURTS-azd-2_24-cv-02674-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal - Employment Discrimination

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Richard Rynn, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v. 

Craig Jennings, et al.,

Defendants.

No. CV-24-02674-PHX-JGZ

ORDER 

On October 15, 2024, Plaintiffs Richard Rynn, Gelliana David Rynn, and Marcella 

Rynn filed a Motion for Alternative Service to Serve Defendant Lynn McLean. (Doc. 39.)

On November 22, 2024, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Expedited Ruling on Plaintiffs’

Motion for Alternative Service to Lynn McLean and Extension of Time to Serve. (Doc. 

98.) Plaintiffs request authorization to serve McLean by affixing documents to McLean’s 

front door because McLean has been actively evading service, according to the professional 

process server hired by Plaintiffs, and refused to accept delivery of the summons and 

complaint via certified mail. (See Docs. 39, 98.) For the following reasons, the Court will 

grant Plaintiffs’ motions for alternative service and an extension of time to serve Defendant 

McLean.

1. Service Impracticable 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e)(1) provides, in part, that “[u]nless federal law 

provides otherwise, an individual ... may be served in a judicial district of the United States 

by: (1) following state law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general 

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jurisdiction in the state where the district court is located or where service is made....” Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 4(e)(1). Under Arizona law, an individual may be served by delivering the 

summons and complaint personally; leaving the documents at the defendants’ “dwelling or 

usual place of abode” with “someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there”; or 

delivering it to an agent authorized by law or appointment. Ariz. R. Civ. P. 4.1(d). If a party 

shows that the means of service provided in Rule 4.1 is “impracticable, the court may—on 

motion and without notice to the person to be served—order that service may be 

accomplished in another manner.” Id. at 4.1(k). Impracticability requires “something less 

than a complete inability to serve the defendant” or “the ‘due diligence’ showing required 

before service by publication may be utilized.” Blair v. Burgener, 245 P.3d 898, 901, 903–

04 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). The fact that traditional service under Rule 4.1(d) would be 

“extremely difficult or inconvenient” suffices. Id. at 903. 

Based on the professional process server’s inability to effectuate service on Mclean

and statement that McLean is actively evading service, the Court finds that traditional 

service would be impracticable.

2. Alternative Means 

If traditional service methods prove impracticable, a court can order that service be 

accomplished in another manner. Ariz. R. Civ. P. 4.1(k)(1). Process papers posted on a 

front door and sent by mail have been found to be appropriate alternative methods of 

service under Arizona law. See DPG Invs. LLC v. Anderson, No. CV-20-01386-PHXDWL, 2020 WL 8482971, at *3 (D. Ariz. Dec. 15, 2020); Baker v. Nw. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 

No. CV-21-00064-TUC-JGZ, at *3 (D. Ariz. Oct. 8, 2021). Plaintiffs, prior to filing their 

motion for alternative service, attempted to serve McLean via certified mail but she refused 

to accept. (Doc. 39 at 6.) Thus, the Court will grant Plaintiffs’ request to serve McLean by 

posting process papers on McLean’s front door. Plaintiffs must make a reasonable effort 

to provide the Defendants with actual notice of the action's commencement and must mail

the summons, the complaint, and the court order authorizing an alternative means of service 

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at McLean’s last-known residential address. Ariz. R. Civ. P. 4.1(k)(2). Accordingly, 

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Alternative Service to Serve Defendant Lynn McLean

(Doc. 39) is granted. Plaintiffs may serve McLean by affixing documents to McLean’s 

front door. Plaintiffs must also mail the summons, the complaint, and this court order 

authorizing an alternative means of service, via regular or first-class mail, to McLean’s

last-known residential address.

2. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Extension of Time to Serve Defendant Lynn McLean 

(Doc. 98) is granted. Plaintiffs have until January 17, 2025 to effectuate service on 

McLean in the above-stated manner.

Dated this 5th day of December, 2024.

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