Opinion ID: 1854992
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bond Validation Statute Denies Due Process.

Text: Appellants contend that the socalled bond validation statute does not comport with due process requirements. Appellants contend the provision for service of process upon the District Attorney and substituted service by publication on the remaining taxpayers and citizens of the organizing subdivision fails to provide adequate notice to them. We disagree. While substituted service may fail to provide for due process of law under certain situations [Cf. Robinson v. Hanrahan, 409 U.S. 38, 93 S.Ct. 30, 34 L.Ed.2d 47 (1972)], we do not believe that the failure of the Legislature to require personal service on every taxpayer and citizen makes the Act void in this bond validation proceeding. Appellants have cited no case which holds that substituted service is inappropriate in a factual situation similar to the one here. In Castevens v. Stanly County, 211 N.C. 642, 191 S.E. 739 (1937), a taxpayer brought an action to enjoin the issuance and sale of school and general fund bonds. Plaintiff contended that he would be deprived of due process by a decree validating the bonds because the validation statute did not require that his name appear in the summons or complaint, or that the summons be served on him personally. The Court said that in this instance all persons included within a well-defined class could be made parties defendant, and service of summons by publication was sufficient. Similarly, in Lippitt v. City of Albany, 131 Ga. 629, 63 S.E. 33 (1908), plaintiff argued that the validation statute violated due process because it deprived citizens of the right to question the validity of the bonds, although citizens were not made parties to the proceeding, and not served personally, or given reasonable opportunity to know of the pendency of the proceedings. The Court rejected this argument noting that the provisions of the statute for substituted service were not unconstitutional.