Opinion ID: 2403537
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Service on Loyen

Text: [¶ 10] Loyen also contends that because he was never properly served, a default judgment could not have been properly issued against him. Personal service within the state shall be made ... by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally or by leaving copies thereof at the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein.... M.R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1). Loyen contends that the service purportedly made on him was in fact improperly made because it was not served on him personally, but rather on Chawna Cota, Carpenter's girlfriend, at a location that was not his dwelling house or usual place of abode. [¶ 11] Loyen's summons and complaint were delivered to a suitable adult at the address of 30 Skydive Lane, which is the address of the property Carpenter and Loyen purchased from Ireland prior to the filing of Ireland's complaint. In the motion to set aside the default judgment, Loyen concedes that he and Carpenter share a duplex at the location at which Cota was served. Moreover, there is no dispute that Loyen actually received the summons and complaint in time to file a timely answer, and therefore suffered no prejudice by any failure to serve him at his true residence. Indeed, Loyen's affidavit accompanying the motion to set aside the default states that he and Carpenter both discovered their summonses and complaints when reviewing their joint business papers some days prior to the deadline for filing their answer. If the defendant has received actual notice by the method of service used, the court should hesitate in finding the service insufficient for some technical noncompliance with Rule 4(d)(1). Peoples Heritage Sav. Bank v. Pease, 2002 ME 82, ¶ 14, 797 A.2d 1270, 1275 (quoting 1 Field, McCusick & Wroth, Maine Civil Practice § 4.5 at 69 (2d ed. 1970)). [¶ 12] The court did not err in concluding that Loyen was not excused from filing a timely answer with the court when service was made on a suitable adult at the address of property recently purchased by Loyen, a location where Loyen concedes he shares a duplex with a co-defendant who was properly served, and when there is no dispute that Loyen did actually receive the complaint and summons within the time prescribed for filing an answer.