Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-1_24-cv-01030/USCOURTS-arwd-1_24-cv-01030-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Four R Marketing LLC
Plaintiff
Maxum Oil Service De Panama, S.A.
Defendant

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

EL DORADO DIVISION

FOUR R MARKETING LLC PLAINTIFF

v. Case No. 1:24-cv-01030

MAXUM OIL SERVICE

DE PANAMA, S.A. DEFENDANT

ORDER

Before the Court is Plaintiff Four R Marketing LLC’s (“Plaintiff”) Motion for Service. (ECF 

No. 12). Defendant Maxum Oil Service De Panama, S.A. (“Defendant”) has not responded, and the 

time to do so has passed. The Court finds the matter ripe for consideration.

On May 6, 2024, Plaintiff filed its Complaint. (ECF No. 2). Plaintiff seeks to recover over

2.5 million dollars ($2,500,000) that it is allegedly owed relating to a purchase order for delivery of 

petroleum products. (ECF No. 2, at 1). Defendant is located in Panama City, Panama. (ECF No. 12, 

at 1). On June 11, 2024, Plaintiff filed the instant motion. (ECF No. 12). Plaintiff requests that the 

Court issue an order authorizing service under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(f)(2)(C)(ii) and 

directing the Clerk of Court to address and send the Complaint, Civil Cover Sheet, and Summons for 

Defendant, to Defendant’s physical address in Panama.1

 (ECF No. 12, at 4). Further, Plaintiff 

requests that this be sent by U.S. registered mail, and that the Court direct the Clerk of Court to work 

with Plaintiff’s counsel to accomplish service in this manner at Plaintiff’s expense.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(f)(2)(C)(ii) allows for overseas service in a manner 

“reasonably calculated to give notice,” and not “prohibited by the foreign country’s laws,” by using 

any form of mail that the clerk addresses and sends to the individual and that requires a signed 

1Ruben Dario Street, Office Park, Building 50, Ground Floor, Local 1-A, Curundu, Panama, República de 

Panamá. (ECF No 12, at 3). Plaintiff is responsible for any translations that are needed, which should be 

accomplished by a reputable and professional translator at Plaintiff’s cost.

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receipt.” While Rule 4(f)(2)(C)(ii) only mentions service on individuals, Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(h)(2) 

allows for service on foreign corporations “in any manner prescribed by Rule 4(f) . . . except 

personal delivery under 4(f)(2)(C)(i).” Panama and the United States are signatories to the InterAmerican Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol (“IACAP”).2

 The IACAP allows 

the ratifying countries to facilitate judicial assistance between countries and allows for other means 

of service but does not otherwise specify on the other methods of service.

3

 Plaintiff requests service 

via U.S. registered mail and states that, to the best of its understanding, Panama does not prohibit 

service by direct mail. Plaintiff points out that this Court has previously authorized foreign service 

via direct mail from the Clerk of Court to foreign corporations in Travis v. Asustek Computer, Inc., 

No. 6:19-cv-06118 SOH, R. Doc. 51 at p. 2 (W.D. Ark. Apr. 13, 2020) (granting plaintiff’s motion for 

service against two defendant corporations located in Taiwan). 

Upon consideration, the Court finds that good cause for the motion has been shown. 

According, Plaintiff’s Motion for Service (ECF No. 12) is hereby GRANTED. The Clerk of Court 

is DIRECTED to address and mail Plaintiff’s Complaint, Civil Cover Sheet, and Summons to 

Defendant in Panama, with return receipts requested, at Plaintiff’s cost. Further, the Clerk of Court is 

authorized to work with Plaintiff’s counsel on this matter. However, the Court notes that Plaintiff’s 

counsel, not the Clerk of Court, is responsible for insuring conformity with the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure and the IACAP requirements.

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 10th day of January, 2025.

/s/ Susan O. Hickey 

Susan O. Hickey

Chief United States District Judge

2The full text of the treaty can be seen here: https://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/b-46.html (last visited 

November 27, 2024).

3

See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/internl-judicial-asst/Service-ofProcess/Inter-American-Service-Convention-Additional-Protocol.html (last visited November 26, 2024). See 

also https://www.fjc.gov/sites/default/files/materials/26/International%20Service%20of%20Process.pdf (last 

visited November 26, 2024)

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