Alias Summons Lady Lake 4 hour surveillance, Got him!

We got a call from an attorney in Kissimmee who had been trying for several months to serve a summons locally.  Plaintiff had paid first for a local Sheriffs office to serve.  They returned it "non-service".  Plaintiff then paid a private process server who was also unable to serve the papers due to the respondents awareness of pending complaint.  Respondent had property that was inaccessible due to fences and gates in an upscale neighborhood.

Attorney for plaintiff contacted us to attempt to serve respondent at his business near us, but 1.5 hours away from respondent's residence.  We knew that this was going to be a tricky serve and would probably only have one chance.  We first drove to the business location to get an understanding of the lay of the land and formulate a plan.  We came back the next day and found a location off property that gave us a good view of the business entrance.  We parked and waited for 4 hours before the respondent arrived with his partner.  We immediately drove to the business location and served the papers as the respondent was getting out of the car.  Respondent was in denial but took the papers with much chagrin.

Eustis Process Service on respondent John Freeman

We attempted to serve a notice of tax sale on respondent John Freeman in Eustis Florida.  Upon arriving at the residence at 1505 E. Crooked Lake Rd., a sign was posted on the wall near the door that informed us:

NOTICE!

• Please do not contact any guest, resident, worker etc. prior to contacting Mr. Bruce Hinselwood, Attorney at law.
• ONCE YOU HAVE READ THIS SIGN, LEAVE THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY! OTHERWISE IT WILL BE PERCEIVED BY ANY OCCUPANT AS A LIFE THREATENING ACT.

THANK YOU

JACQUELINE S. FREEMAN FAMILY TRUST

As you might imagine, the notice was somewhat disturbing and an immediate cause for concern as the occupant clearly made their intentions to address a threat on their life.  We notified our client of the situation and service of process was affected by serving the attorney on the notice in Orlando.

It is not often (thank goodness) that we feel threatened on the job, but it does happen from time to time.  A good process server will remain calm and assess the situation.  In my situation I pulled up to the house with camcorder recording because I  had been warned about the respondent the previous day when I encountered some workers who were quick to point out the sign.  Sign like these will not deter a good process server.  Bringing a witness with me or having a camcorder on and informing the occupants of either of those scenarios will likely cause the respondent to behave themselves.  Phone calls to colleagues before leaving the car is also a way of documenting your time and location in the event the situation turns dark.

A last attempt was made on John Freeman after seeing his black Cadillacs parked in front of the house.  I knew them to be his since the workers told me he drove a black Cadillac.  As I approached the door I could hear two people having a discussion.  But once I knocked on the door, the discussion ended and no one would come to the door.  The Freeman property has several security cameras located about the two homes that make up the Freeman property.  One is the main house with an office on the side, and the other is a rental with tenants.

John Freeman is currently facing a federal case against him in the Orlando federal court house.  Charges against him revolve around his bankruptcy case and allegations of unreported assets.  A quick search on the Pacer website should give anyone insight into the case.

Any address for him located on hwy 441 will prove futile as it is an old address for a defunct commercial post office that provides mailing addresses for those that do not wish to have mail delivered to their homes or  the US Post Office.

John Freeman is also a Florida Licensed CPA.  But we were unable to locate any workplace address.

Anyone who is attempting service of process on John S. Freeman  should use caution and prudence.

Paralegal ruins an urgent job

Subject:  Urgent Subpoena emailed to us for service in Eustis Florida

We got a call a few days ago from a legal assistant that needed a subpoena served in 8 days.  I asked if this was a rush job because we charge an extra $25 for rush services.

Red Flag #1- She asked when will routine service go out for service.  We told her no sooner than 48 hours, otherwise it would be rush.  She said fine, do the routine service.  The next day she called to ask if we had served the subpoena and left a voice mail for me.  Of course we were dismayed. We attempted to return her call but couldn't get through the receptionist/answering service.

Red Flag #2- This morning we prepared a work order for the job and noticed there was no copy of a check made out to my company.   Check copies are required after getting stiffed by one too many companies.  So we sent an email to the paralegal and reminded her that the job wouldn't go out until we had a copy of the check emailed to us.

Red Flag #3- The paralegal responded to my email and said she needed an invoice before she would send me a copy of the check.

We responded to her email and told her to find another company.  Now she has 5 days to get the subpoena served and she will definitely be paying the rush fee to another company who undoubtedly will get paid up front.

Eustis House Squatter with Foster Child

Well today I get a rush job to serve an alias eviction summons.  Respondents allegedly trashed my clients rental house in Black Bear that they were renting.   They left that house and moved into a vacant house just around the corner.  I attempted service today at the newly occupied squatter house.  The TV was on and the car (red mitsubishi florida tag PBP6Z) was in the driveway.  Windows were carefully covered up with cloth to block visibility into the house.  This service was now escalated to service evasion. I contacted my client who was on the way to Eustis from North Carolina.  I advised him that this was going to require a process server to sit at the house round the clock.  He gave me the okay to do it.   In the process of our discussion, my client revealed that the respondents had a foster child.  I immediately called the DCF hotline and gave them the info about a foster child living in a squatters home.   The foster child was hear say and I indicated that to the girl from DCF.  I provided SSN, DOB and names of respondents.  DCF asked for the new address.  But I refused to give it to them unless I was going to be with them when they knocked on the door.  DCF said that they would have a case worker come to my house, if the allegations of a foster child involvement were true, and would accompany me to the squatters house.   So I am waiting to hear from DCF.  If the foster child involvement is true, I will have succeeded in serving this alias summons without undue time and costs.

Update:

I waited outside the house at 6:15 A.M the next morning for two hours.  A rather sizable pile of garbage was picked up by the garbage man.  There were no cars in the driveway and no lights in the house were illuminated.  I thought I might catch them going to work.   But it appears they had already left.  Although their were no cars in the driveway, it was possible that they were in the garage.  I came back later in the afternoon and met with my client to knock on the door.   Upon arriving at the door I saw that the curtains had been removed that were there the preceding day to block peering eyes into the house.  Now it was clear that the house was completely vacant.  Truck tire tracks in the dirt at the front door were a clear indication of a quick move during the night.  So, even though the DCF was aware of these people, it appears that they have eluded me for the time being.  DCF will no doubt investigate this matter and in all probability have already arranged to confiscate the foster children in their care.  I asked DCF for some cooperation in their whereabouts since I gave them a boatload of information. They did not offer me any encouragement in a mutual cooperation agreement.

I was sleeping....

Divorce Papers:

The first day I arrived at 203 Fern Court, Leesburg, Florida,  I rang the bell and I heard someone come to the door and to look thru the peep hole.  There was a woman's car in the driveway, so I presumed it was the girlfriend at the door.  Respondents vehicle was not present.   I rang the bell a few more times and then left.

Afterwards the attorney told me that respondent Jerry B. was working days and arrived home between 4-5 PM.  So the next day, I decided to get there at 6:30 A.M. and wait for him t0 go to work.  When I arrived at the 203 Fern Court,  I noticed two vehicles, both covered with heavy morning dew.  I knew from the dew that neither of these vehicles have been driven since the night before.  Since I didn't want to wake these folks up, I waited and waited.  At 8:30 A.M. I rang the doorbell and once again heard someone approach the door.   But as usual no one opened the door.  So I decided I was going to ring the bell until someone came to the door.

Poor Jerry B. came to the door dressed. I identified myself and he said he was sleeping and that I was rude to wake him.  I informed him the time was 8:30 A.M., a very normal hour for any business to operate.   Jerry told me that he just got off the mid shift and was sleeping.  I told him I had been sitting outside since 6:30 and there was dew on his truck, a ford explorer, when I arrived.  He started to close the door before I finished my paperwork.  After informing him that the next person to ring his doorbell would be the police, he began to cooperate.

Pants on fire.