Subject:
Title
Resolution designating the County Attorney as the official to accept service of process on behalf of Pinellas County and its Board of County Commissioners, as well as individual County Commissioners and the County Administrator, in their official capacities.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution designating the County Attorney as the official agent to accept service of process on behalf of Pinellas County and its Board of County Commissioners, as well as individual County Commissioners and the County Administrator, in their official capacities.
Body
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Summary:
Summary
This resolution would streamline service of civil process by designating the County Attorney to accept such process, regardless of availability of the Chair, Vice-Chair, any other County Commissioner or County Administrator, by designating the County Attorney as the official agent for acceptance of service of process.
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Background Information:
Resolution 90-206 designates the County Attorney to accept service of process on behalf of the County, the Board of County Commissioners, and Commissioners in their official capacities. Effective January 2, 2023, due to a change in state law, there is a statutory hierarchy for service of process, beginning with the Commission Chair, and in the Chair’s absence, enumerated officials and representatives, and in the absence of all other statutorily designated individuals, ultimately “[o]n any employee of the governmental entity at the main office of the governmental entity.” To avoid uncertainty on the part of any process servers, this resolution is recommended to restate and clarify the County’s official policy.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Jewel White, County Attorney
Christy Donovan Pemberton, Managing Assistant County Attorney
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Service of Process Resolution.
Resolution No. 90-206.