Q: CAN I SEND A PERSON TO THE BUSINESS OF THE PERSON I AM SUING UNDER FALSE PRETENSES TO SERVE HIM THE PAPERS?
A:
No, you can't send a person to the business under false pretenses (for example, having the person pose as a customer, when they really aren't really there to shop but are there for another reason). But you can send the person to the business for the purpose of finding the person you are suing, and delivering papers.
You could have the person go to the business and ask if they can speak with the person you are suing, and if they are asked for a reason, the person serving papers should answer truthfully. They can answer that they have papers to deliver to the person you are suing. If the person serving papers is denied access or asked to leave the business, they should leave. The Fair Debt Collections Procedures Act makes it illegal to try to collect a debt using misrepresentation and deception.
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