Opinion ID: 1913106
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Holmstedt Failed to Properly Serve the Individual Defendants in Their Official Capacities.

Text: [5] Having concluded that Holmstedt sued the individual defendants solely in their official capacities, we consider the defendants' motions to dismiss pursuant to rule 12(b)(2), (4), and (5). We conclude that Holmstedt failed to properly serve the defendants in their official capacities and that therefore, the district court did not err in granting the motions to dismiss pursuant to rule 12(b)(2), (4), and (5). The reversal of the district court's order by the Court of Appeals was error and therefore must be reversed. [6] The individuals named in this action were public servants employed by York County. In § 1983 actions, a suit against a public employee in his or her official capacity is merely a suit against the public employer. Johnson v. Outboard Marine Corp., 172 F.3d 531, 535 (8th Cir. 1999) (citing Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985)). Therefore, this suit against employees of York County in their official capacities was a suit against York County. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-510.02 (Reissue 1995) provides the proper procedure for service on the State and other political subdivisions. Subsection (2) provides, Any county, city, or village of this state may be served by personal, residence, or certified mail service upon the chief executive officer, or clerk. In order to sue the individuals in their official capacities, and thereby to sue York County, Holmstedt was required to make service on York County in compliance with § 25-510.02(2). The statute required service on the chief executive officer or the clerk of the county, rather than on the named county employees. Holmstedt served the named employees, rather than the appropriate official of York County. Holmstedt therefore failed to properly serve York County and by extension failed to serve the individuals in their official capacities. Because Holmstedt did not properly serve the individuals in their official capacities, the district court did not gain personal jurisdiction over such defendants. See, similarly, Nebraska Methodist Hospital Sys. v. Dept. of Health, 249 Neb. 405, 543 N.W.2d 466 (1996) (in order to vest court with personal jurisdiction over State in case arising under Administrative Procedure Act, plaintiff must serve summons upon Attorney General). Therefore, we conclude that the district court properly granted the individual defendants' motions to dismiss pursuant to rule 12(b)(2), (4), and (5) and that the Court of Appeals' erred when it reversed the dismissal. Because dismissal was proper under these subsections, we need not consider the assignment of error regarding dismissal pursuant to rule 12(b)(6).