Opinion ID: 787030
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Carrumba Music

Text: 28 Service on Carrumba Music, the d/b/a for Jorge Hinojosa, is governed by Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(e), the provision for service of process on individuals. 7 Rule 4(e) permits service pursuant to the law of the state in which service is effected, which in this case is California because Hinojosa is a resident of California. See LSJ Inv., 167 F.3d at 322-23. Under California law, service on an individual may be effected as follows: 29 If a copy of the summons and complaint cannot with reasonable diligence be personally delivered to the person to be served, as specified in Section 416.60, 416.70, 416.80, or 416.90, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the person's dwelling house, usual place of abode, usual place of business, or usual mailing address other than a United States Postal Service post office box, in the presence of a competent member of the household or a person apparently in charge of his or her office, place of business, or usual mailing address other than a United States Postal Service post office box, at least 18 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and of the complaint by first-class mail, postage prepaid to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were left. Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after the mailing. 30 Cal.Civ.Proc.Code § 415.20(b) (West 2004). 31 Bridgeport attempted to serve Carrumba Music by leaving the summons and amended complaint with a receptionist at the office of Provident Financial Management in Los Angeles, California. Provident is an accounting firm retained by Carrumba Music to perform routine bookkeeping and accounting functions limited to tasks such as paying bills, receiving and depositing checks, preparing taxes, and keeping Carrumba Music's books and records. Provident was not authorized to accept service of process on behalf of Carrumba Music. 32 Bridgeport failed to show compliance with California's rule for service of process on individuals because it offered no basis to conclude that the Los Angeles address for Provident was the usual place of business or usual mailing address of Carrumba Music. See LSJ Inv. Co., 167 F.3d at 323 (office was location repeatedly given by defendant as the address for his business and himself). Accordingly, we find no error in the dismissal of Carrumba Music for lack of service of process.