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FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE SERVICE-OF-PROCESS REQUIREMENTS IN CPLR 308 AND 311 ARE JURISDICTIONAL DEFECTS, NOT “TECHNICAL” DEFECTS WHICH CAN BE OVERLOOKED PURSUANT TO CPLR 2001 (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the incarcerated plaintiff’s failure to comply with the service of process requirements in CPLR 308(2) and 311 were jurisdictional defects which could not be overlooked by the judge pursuant to CPLR 2001. CPLR 2001, which allows a court to cure a “technical” defect in effecting service, presupposes the court has acquired jurisdiction:

“‘The court’s ability to apply CPLR 2001 . . . presupposes that the court has acquired jurisdiction'” … . Thus, “CPLR 2001 may be used to cure only a ‘technical infirmity'” in effecting service … . “‘In deciding whether a defect in service is merely technical, courts must be guided by the principle of notice to the defendant—notice that must be reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their objections'” … . “Defendant’s actual receipt of the summons and complaint is not dispositive of the efficacy of service” … .

Here, notwithstanding the plaintiff’s status as an incarcerated pro se litigant, the plaintiff’s failure to comply with the personal delivery requirements of CPLR 308(2) and CPLR 311, or to effect the requisite mailings within the required time period under CPLR 308(2) are jurisdictional defects that the Supreme Court may not overlook pursuant to CPLR 2001 … . Baptiste v County of Suffolk, 2025 NY Slip Op 04618, Second Dept 8-13-25

Practice Point: CPLR 2001, which allows the cure of “technical” defects in the service of process, does not apply to “jurisdictional” defects such as failing to comply with the requirements in CPLR 308 and 311.

 

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