Opinion ID: 900361
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Was service of the summons and complaint on Truesdell defective?

Text: [¶ 6.]We hold that service of process in this case was not defective because there was substantial compliance with the personal service mandates of SDCL 15-6-4(d)(10), which requires that the summons be served to the defendant personally. [¶ 7.]We have held that: Substantial compliance with a statute means actual compliance in respect to the substance essential to every reasonable objective of the statute. It means that a court should determine whether the statute has been followed sufficiently so as to carry out the intent for which it was adopted. Substantial compliance with a statute is not shown unless it is made to appear that the purpose of the statute is shown to have been served. What constitutes substantial compliance with a statute is a matter depending on the facts of each particular case. State v. Bunnell, 324 N.W.2d 418, 420 (S.D.1982) (internal citations and quotations omitted); see also Larson v. Hazeltine, 1996 SD 100, ¶ 19, 552 N.W.2d 830, 835; Rans v. State, 390 N.W.2d 64, 66 (S.D.1986). [¶ 8.]This Court has held that the purpose of service of process is to advise the defendant that an action or proceeding has been commenced against him by plaintiff, and warn him that he must appear within a time and at a place named and make such defense as he has[.] Hartley v. Jerry's Radio & Elec. Shop, 74 S.D. 87, 90, 48 N.W.2d 925, 927 (1951) (citation and internal quotation omitted). We hold that, in this case, the purpose of the statute was met. [¶ 9.]While we emphasize the purpose of SDCL 15-6-4(d)(10) as being that of notice, it is equally important to state that notice alone is not enough. This is the issue that the Minnesota Supreme Court was faced with in Thiele v. Stich, 425 N.W.2d 580 (Minn.1988). In Thiele, the court held that a service of process statute requiring a defendant to be served personally or by leaving a copy of the papers at the defendant's abode was not satisfied by leaving the papers with the defendant's receptionist at his place of work. The Minnesota Supreme Court held that actual notice alone is not enough. The court phrased its holding as: Actual notice will not subject defendants to personal jurisdiction absent substantial compliance with Rule 4. Id. at 584 (citing Benny v. Pipes, 799 F.2d 489, 492 (9th Cir.1986); Jackson v. Hayakawa, 682 F.2d 1344, 1347 (9th Cir.1982)) (emphasis added). We agree with the Minnesota Supreme Court that actual notice coupled with substantial compliance is sufficient to satisfy personal service of process requirements and we hereby adopt that holding as the law of our state. [2] [¶ 10.]The realities of a case must be considered when proper service of process is questioned. To follow the strict reading of SDCL 15-6-4(d)(10) urged by Truesdell would be an absurdity. The constable could have handed the papers to Truesdell and then Richmond would have immediately taken them away from Truesdell to give to Truesdell's attorney. There logically is no need in this case for that middle-person step to fulfill the purpose of SDCL 15-6-4(d)(10). [¶ 11.]In this case, what more could Wagner have done? The constable went to Truesdell's home and asked for Truesdell. Richmond informed him that Truesdell was mentally incompetent and was in his care. When the constable asked for Mrs. Truesdell, he was informed that she was in Nevada. He then presented the papers to Truesdell's caretaker who assured him that he would see to it that Truesdell's attorney received the papers. The entire time, Truesdell, who it is not disputed was mentally incompetent, was present in the house, and for all practical purposes could not have comprehended what was happening when he was handed the service of process papers. Wagner substantially complied with SDCL 15-6-4(d)(10), and that was enough to satisfy the service of process requirements in this case. [¶ 12.]We reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion. [¶ 13.]AMUNDSON and KONENKAMP, JJ., concur. [¶ 14.]SABERS and GILBERTSON, JJ., concur in result.