Court Summons via Facebook!!!!

Dwarf · 22 Feb 2012

Be interesting to see how this actually stands up in a Court of Law. After all, people already post messages on social networking sites purporting to actually coming from someone other than themselves. Surely, it won't be long before unscrupulous people post such messages claiming that it is an official court notice when, in fact, it is nothing of the sort. Besides which, I would have thought that a court summons was a private document, intended to be read only by the recipient and his/her legal team, and not the world and his wife, as could be the case on social networking sites.

Qdos · 22 Feb 2012

I believe it was sent by Facebook PM, rather than posted on the hapless blokes wall...

Either way it's an unpleasant can of worms which lawyers are trying to pry open, as it sets a legal precedence for any forums I'd guess...

seekermeister · 22 Feb 2012

I tend to doubt that this will become common practice, because a summons requires proof that it was delivered prior to a court date. While receiving a PM can be documented, it the person visits the website and reads it, there is no guarantee that he will visit within the alloted time, and read his PMs. However, this problem could be overcome, if the forums displayed the sender of the PM, prior to selecting it. It would only need to be displayed to the receiver.

DJ Digital · 22 Feb 2012

what a joke them trying that. it has to be served personally or via cert-reg us mail.
even if the notice was via fb pm/im- it will never hold up in court

if it was me, i would proffer the UCC 3-501 refusal For Cause arguement
"sorry i dont know anything about the complaint.."