You Got Served… On Facebook

In a custody case wherein a father was unable to locate a current address for his ex-wife and the mother of their child, a U.S. Magistrate judge has allowed the man to provide a copy of the summons and petition to the woman’s Facebook account. However, because of the uncertainty that the account truly belongs to the defendant, Judge Cheryl L. Pollak said “the petitioner must also effect service by certified mail, return receipt requested, on defendant’s last known address.” Lawyers on the case said they believe it’s the first time a judge has allowed service by Facebook when a defendant is in the U.S.