Opinion ID: 754638
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was Blumenthal Properly Served?

Text: 25 Richard Blumenthal, the Attorney General of Connecticut and a defendant on the counterclaims, argues that Vazquez's suit must be dismissed--at least against him--because he was not a party to the original suit and Vazquez failed properly to join or to serve him. Significantly, Attorney General Blumenthal does not contend (a) that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, or venue over him; (b) that he is otherwise unamenable to service of process; or (c) that he lacked notice of this lawsuit. He simply claims (apparently correctly) that service of process on him was never properly effectuated. The district court never reached this argument because it dismissed the claims against Blumenthal on other grounds. If the court had reached the question, it most likely would have allowed Vazquez to remedy her error by serving Blumenthal at that time. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m) (court may excuse failure timely to serve a summons and complaint on the opposing party for good cause). Because the merits of the case against Attorney General Blumenthal are easily resolved, we assume, without deciding, that he is a proper party to this action. See Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co., 141 F.3d 434 (2d Cir. 1998). 3 26