Opinion ID: 1155797
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Initial Service

Text: The designated agent for service was Gertrude Morrison, with a stated street address and not a post office box number. Practical realism teaches us that the inclusion of a box number on a summons for the sheriff's process service affords him no assistance (and normally no service for plaintiff). The requirement or desirability of a deliverable address is the reason that present law requires a street address and not a box number for the agent for service of a qualified corporation. Section 17-1-109, W.S. 1977. Except from the negative implication from the last known address in Thayne, there is nothing in the file to show that Midway Oil Corporation did not have an office in Natrona County. Certainly it is only known that the sheriff did not find Gertrude Morrison, Post Office Box 1144, Casper, Wyoming. A more adequate negative return is strongly indicated if used for later reliance on substituted service. Bryant v. Wybro Federal Credit Union, Wyo., 544 P.2d 1010 (1976); Pease Brothers v. American Pipe & Supply Co., supra; 47 Am.Jur.2d Judgments § 1174, p. 197. Since the last known address of defendant as available to plaintiffs was geographically far removed, the inclusion of a box number for service by the sheriff in Natrona County was at best misleading. Obviously, the service-of-process issue in this fashion would only occur in a case of a corporation or a like entity where the attempted local services were first utilized as the predicate for service on the Secretary of State or other substitute service. Otherwise, the service would be insufficient and a better address from counsel to sheriff would be required before jurisdiction was claimed or obtained. Rules 4(f), 4(d)(4), and 4(d)(6), W.R.C.P. See Bryant v. Wybro Federal Credit Union, supra. We hold that under Rule 4(d)(4), W.R.C.P., the attempted local service was not adequate or adequately proved, where at a minimum the last known address or the in-county street address was not listed for the information of the sheriff. Attempted service at a post office box number would hardly be actual service. National Supply Co. v. Chittim, Wyo., 387 P.2d 1010 (1964); 62 Am.Jur.2d Process § 111, p. 896. Since the service of process is the basis upon which jurisdiction is obtained, this court and current law have frequently enunciated the rule that strict compliance with the statute is required. In re Estate of Lonquest, Wyo., 526 P.2d 994 (1974); Pease Brothers v. American Pipe & Supply Co., supra; Joseph Russell Realty Co. v. Kenneally, 185 Mont. 496, 605 P.2d 1107 (1980); Ratcliff v. Werlein, Tex.Civ.App., 485 S.W.2d 932 (1972); 62 Am.Jur.2d Process § 3, p. 785.