Serving a Taiwanese Defendant by Mail If you need to serve a foreign defendant, particularly in Taiwan, there are several factors you must take into consideration. Specifically, properly serving a foreign defendant requires complying with United States law, the law of the defendant’s home country, and any international treaty that may exist between the two…
News
Old Law and New Tricks: Charitable Immunity and the Catholic Church
/in Hague Convention/by Ancillary LegalA plaintiff filed suit against the Catholic Church for the abuse he allegedly suffered from a bishop in the 1960s. The Catholic Church attempted to invoke a now-abolished law—charitable immunity—to claim its status as a non-profit prevented it from being sued. The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently ruled on the case, rejecting Holy See’s argument.…
Served With a Lawsuit From Overseas? Understanding the Hague Convention
/in International/by Ancillary LegalWhen someone is served with a lawsuit that originated overseas, they may not know how different this type of litigation can be from a domestic lawsuit. In such scenarios, if the Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s home country is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial & Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or…
More Minorities Hired by Law Firms, Study Shows
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalLarge law firms are hiring more minority associate attorneys, according to a recent national survey conducted by The American Bar Association (“ABA”). Specifically, large law firms hired more Asian, Black, and Hispanic associates in 2020 than they did the year prior. The ABA’s study further showed that, despite the number of equity partners that are…
The Hague Convention on Child Adoption
/in International/by Ancillary LegalFor those who want to be parents, adoption is a viable option and can occur domestically or internationally. The Hague Convention on Protection of Children & Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the “HCCA”) is a multilateral treaty between more than 75 countries, including the United States, that became effective in April 2008. The HCCA…
Best Practice Tips for Solo Attorneys
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalWhile finishing law school and passing the bar are no doubt significant achievements, many newly minted attorneys soon learn that it is hardly passing the finish line when it comes to their professional legal career. Specifically, the immediate next step after completing law school and the bar is to determine where to practice. For many,…
Serving Divorce Papers Abroad: A Primer
/in international service, Process Server/by Ancillary LegalIt is no secret that divorce can be difficult. Rarely is the process seamless. If your soon-to-be ex-spouse is in another country, your life at home may have less emotion and drama but serving divorce papers will be more difficult than doing so domestically. This is because proper service is much more complicated than just…
Understanding Court Reporting
/in Court reporting/by Ancillary LegalIf you are in need of a court reporter to meet your litigation needs, it is important to understand the field of stenography in order to choose the right one for your specific situation. Below is some basic information about stenography and tips on how to choose one that will provide the best service for…
Serving a Tawainese Defendant by Mail
/in international service/by Ancillary LegalServing a Taiwanese Defendant by Mail If you need to serve a foreign defendant, particularly in Taiwan, there are several factors you must take into consideration. Specifically, properly serving a foreign defendant requires complying with United States law, the law of the defendant’s home country, and any international treaty that may exist between the two…
Understanding Service of Process
/in Process Server/by Ancillary LegalUnderstanding Service of Process The legal term “service of process” refers to the method used by parties in a lawsuit to formally deliver legal documents to the other parties in the litigation as well as the court. Service of process is a critical step in starting a lawsuit. Serving a defendant properly is so important…
How to Serve a Chinese Company
/in international service/by Ancillary LegalHow to Serve a Chinese Company There are several challenges that plaintiffs may face when trying to assert a claim against a Chinese legal entity. Both the United States and China are member-states and parties to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial & Extrajudicial Documents (the “Hague Service Convention”). The Hague Service…
Houston Judge Scolded (Again) by 5th Circuit For Handling of Employment Case
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalA Houston U.S. District Court Judge has now been reversed three different times by the 5th Circuit and admonished for his handling of those employment discrimination cases, according to a news article published by Reuters. The Reversals The 5th Circuit vacated a decision by U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes to grant summary judgment in favor…
How Long Does the Hague Process Take for International Service?
/in international service/by Ancillary LegalHow Long Does the Hague Process Take for International Service? If you or someone you know is suing a foreign defendant, it is critical to understand that the process is significantly different than serving a person or entity domestically. The time in which to complete service is wholly dependent upon the country in which the…