Opinion ID: 1833609
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the chancery court possess personal jurisdiction over Goodin?

Text: ¶ 8. Goodin contends that he is an Arizona resident as he still owns a house and is still a registered voter there and, therefore, is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Winston County Chancery Court. This Court, however, need not consider whether Goodin is a domiciliary as he was properly served process while physically present in Mississippi. ¶ 9. The United States Supreme Court has held that a nonresident of a State is subject to the jurisdiction of that State's courts if properly served process while physically present in that State. Burnham v. Superior Court, 495 U.S. 604, 628, 110 S.Ct. 2105, 2119, 109 L.Ed.2d 631, 650 (1990). One may properly serve process to a defendant in Mississippi by having the sheriff or his deputy physically deliver a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant. Miss. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). Upon completion of physical service, the sheriff or deputy must file a proof of service form with the court. Miss. R. Civ. P. 4(f). ¶ 10. In the case sub judice, this Court finds Goodin personally subject to the jurisdiction of this State's courts under Burnham. DHS properly served Goodin a copy of the summons and complaint as is reflected in the proof of service form, signed by Winston County Deputy Sheriff Curtis Austin, indicating he personally served process to Goodin in Mississippi. While Goodin maintained at the hearing that he had not been properly served process by DHS, Goodin fails to raise that issue on appeal. This Court has long held that issues not properly raised on appeal are procedurally barred from consideration. See Glover v. Jackson St. Univ., 755 So.2d 395, 398 n. 1 (Miss.2000); Moore v. State, 676 So.2d 244, 245 (Miss. 1996). Even were Goodin's contention not procedurally barred, this Court finds substantial, credible evidence in the proof of service form to support the chancellor's finding that the trial court had jurisdiction over the parties and affirms the trial court's decision.