Service of Process

On occasion employees of the university may be approached by legal process servers attempting to serve upon them papers giving notice of a legal action, usually in the form of a summons and complaint or subpoena.  Such court-related papers require expeditious response.  It is essential that employees so approached handle all such notice papers promptly in the manner specified below, as determined by the nature of the legal process.

Legal Process in Which the University is Named and No Individual Employee or Agent of the University is Named: 

As the university is a public body for purposes of service of process, legal service must be made personally on the appropriate officer of the university.  The office of the university designated to receive legal service is the Officed of General Counsel.  Therefore, all process servers seeking to make service upon the university must be directed to:

If legal process is inadvertently accepted elsewhere, the recipient must immediately notify by telephone the Office of General Counsel at 856-256-5110 and send the process server to the Office of General Counsel.  If legal process names a constituent part of the university (e.g., a college, division, or department) such service shall be regarded as service upon the university and directed to the Office of General Counsel.

Legal Process Naming the University and Also Naming One or More Individual Employees or Agents of the University:

Individual employees of the university cannot refuse service of legal process naming them specifically.  However, if that process also names the university as a corporate defendant, the individual should not accept service on behalf of the university but should direct the process server to the Office of General Counsel.  Upon receipt of individual service, an employee or agent who believes that he or she is entitled to be defended and/or indemnified shall telephone the Office of General Counsel immediately and then promptly deliver the legal papers to the office.

Legal Process Naming an Individual Employee of the University But Not Naming the University as a Defendant:

An individual employee so served who believes the action giving rise to the legal process took place in the course of the performance of the duties of his or her position in the university may be entitled to indemnity by the university and should promptly telephone the Office of General Counsel and then forward a copy of legal process to the Office of General Counsel.

Subpoenaed University Employees:

If a university employee is served a subpoena from any court or governmental jurisdiction concerning any matter involving the university, either requesting the production of records or individual appearance, or both, or if an employee is requested to give a deposition in a matter involving the university, he or she must immediately contact the Office of General Counsel by telephone.  Copies of both the written notice and subpoena shall also be sent to the Office of General Counsel.