Opinion ID: 1162719
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Property Owners

Text: In the present case we have no doubt that the notice of the adjudication was constitutionally sufficient as to those potential claimants who received the summons by certified mail. Of more concern are those property owners who, for one reason or another, did not receive a summons by mail. We are convinced, however, that these persons were accorded due process through the notices published in the newspapers. Although notice by publication is not sufficient due process for persons whose identity and address could be established through reasonable efforts, Mullane, 339 U.S. at 318, 70 S.Ct. at 659, publication notice is sufficient for those persons whose interests or whereabouts could not with due diligence be ascertained. Id. at 317, 70 S.Ct. at 659. SLD and DWR's efforts in assembling the mailing list and serving 849,000 summons on all record owners of property in the watersheds meet the standard of due diligence and demonstrate that the agencies' endeavors to notify interested persons went far beyond mere pretense. See id. at 315, 70 S.Ct. at 657 ([P]rocess which is a mere gesture is not due process. The means employed must be such as one desirous of actually informing the absentee might reasonably adopt to accomplish it.). Cf. Pioneer Fed. Sav. Bank v. Driver, 166 Ariz. 585, 589, 804 P.2d 118, 122 (Ct.App. 1990) (publication notice insufficient where mortgagee failed to consult readily available sources for mortgagor's address before obtaining default deficiency judgment).