Q: What happens If the defendant is nowhere to be found?
My lawyer informed me that the reason my lawsuit has been dragged out for so long is due to an awol defendant. It was a car accident that was his fault and caused me to have cervical fusion surgery . It has been 6 yrs and the defendant has not complied with anything and has completely vanished.
A: That isn't a great answer. These days there are investigators that can find most people. If he can't be served, he can ask the Court for an order permitting service by publication or some other means. If he was served and he disappeared, you can just move for summary judgment based upon your own affidavit.
A: That the defendant has gone missing should not, standing alone, delay your case for years on end. If the defendant driver has not complied with court orders directing him to appear for deposition or with other discovery, your attorney can file a motion to either have his answer stricken or to preclude him from testifying at the time of trial. Moreover, if the underlying incident was clearly caused by the defendant's negligence (such as a hit in the rear, etc.) then your lawyer could file a motion for summary judgment and have the issue of liability resolved in your favor. All he or she would need is your affidavit.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
