When People Do Shoot the Messenger… Literally

As any process server can tell you, being tasked with enforcing legal service of process is a tough job. Not only are you responsible for delivering news that is likely going to be unwelcomed by the recipient, but you must track down people across the state—or country—when they really don’t want to be found.

We all know that process servers are merely the humble messengers delivering court documents, but that doesn’t stop emotions from surging when defendants hear the words “you’ve been served.”

A man in Carroll County, Maryland, for example, is now facing numerous charges because he attempted to shoot a process server. When the process server arrived at the property, the man told him to leave and then exited his garage with a rifle. The process server did get into his car, but the man shot at the vehicle anyway! Several bullet holes were found in the process server’s car, and the defendant was quickly taken into police custody. He’s now charged with second-degree attempted murder, use of firearm, reckless endangerment, and first-degree assault. It looks like those papers won’t be the last that he is served!

Across the country in Los Angeles, a man took it one step further and stabbed the process server at his door before fleeing. This process server was attempting to serve papers in regard to a restraining order, and ended up being treated by the paramedics as police spent the early morning hours searching for the perpetrator.

This type of dangerous assault is a serious issue, and more and more states are now making assault on a process server a felony charge. Illinois was the first state to take this step, explaining, “We have increased the assault penalties over the years for those people who work on behalf of the State Government and law enforcement, and this legislation will extend these protections for those who work on behalf of the courts.”