Civil Procedure: Module 4 Flashcards
what is a summons?
a writ by which the defendant is notified of the action brought against him or her.
true or false: a service of summons is a vital and indispensable ingredient of due process
true
true or false: compliance with the rules regarding the service of summons is not mandatory.
false. compliance with the service of summons is a requirement of due process and jurisdiction.
what is the two-fold purpose of summons?
- to acquire jurisdiction over the person of the defendant;
- to notify the defendant that an action has been commenced so that he may be given an opportunity to be heard on the claim against him and the theory on which such claim is presented.
what is the general rule when there is an improper service of summons?
the general rule is that without service of summons, or when summons are improperly made, both the trial and the judgment, being in violation of due process, are null and void.
what is the exception to the general rule of no proper service of summons?
unless the defendant waives the service of summons by voluntarily appearing and answering the suit.
true or false: proper service of summons is discretionary.
false. regardless of any type of action, proper service of summons is imperative.
what is the purpose of the service of summons?
the purpose is to comply with due process and to acquire jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.
true or false: the mere filing of the complaint and payment of the lawful fees enables the court to acquire jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.
false. the mere filing of the complaint and payment of the lawful fees does not automatically give the court jurisdiction over the defendant. a valid service of summons is required so that the court may acquire jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.
true or false: where the action is in personam, that is, one brought against a person on the basis of his or her personal liability, jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is necessary for the court to validly try and decide the case.
true.
in what cases is the court not able to acquire jurisdiction over the defendant?
- in an action for damages
- in an action for sum of money
true or false: knowledge by the defendant of the action filed against him dispenses the needs for summons.
false. knowledge of the defendant of the action filed against him does not dispense the need for summons. summons must still be issued and served upon him.
true or false: the court is primarily concerned with the jurisdiction over the person of the defendant in actions in rem and quasi in rem.
false. the court is not primarily concerned with the jurisdiction over the person of the defendant. the acquisition by the court of jurisdiction over the res is what principally matters.
how does the court acquire jurisdiction over the res?
- the seizure of property under legal process;
- as a result of the institution of legal proceedings, in which the power of the court is recognized and made effective.
what are the two ways to acquire jurisdiction over the person?
- by summons
- by voluntary appearance or submission to the court
true or false: the defendant’s voluntary appearance in the action shall be equivalent to service of summons.
true.
true or false: the inclusion in a motion to dismiss of other grounds aside from the lack of jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is not considered a voluntary appearance.
false. the inclusion of a motion to dismiss on other grounds aside from the lack of jurisdiction over the person of the defendant shall be deemed a voluntary appearance.
true or false: filing a motion to dismiss based on lack of jurisdiction over the person of the defendant as a sole ground equates to no voluntary appearance.
true.
what is a voluntary appearance?
a voluntary appearance is any appearance of the defendant in court.
true or false: if the defendant’s motion is for any other purpose than to object the jurisdiction of the court over his person, he thereby submits himself to the jurisdiction of the court.
true.
what is the principle of voluntary appearance?
the court immediately acquires jurisdiction over the defendant as long as the defendant performs acts that could be construed as a voluntary appearance.
true or false: the act of making a conditional or special appearance in court to object to the jurisdiction that the court over his person, is not a voluntary appearance or a voluntary submission to the court.
true.
what is a special appearance?
this is an appearance made for the purpose of objecting to the court’s jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.
who issues the summons?
the clerk of court.
when should the summons be issued?
within 5 calendar days from the filing of the complaint and the payment of docket and other lawful fees.
to whom is the summons directed to?
the defendant
what is the period to file an answer to an amended complaint?
upon receipt of the amended complaint and the summons, the defendant is given another period of 15 calendar days to file an answer to the amended complaint.
who serves the summons?
- sheriff
- sheriff’s deputy
- other proper court officer
in case of failure of the service of summons by the officer in charge, who else may serve the summons?
the plaintiff, authorized by court, together with the sheriff.
what happens if the plaintiff misrepresents that the defendant was served with summons, and later proved that no summons was served?
the case shall be dismissed with prejudice, the proceedings shall be nullified, and the plaintiff shall be meted with the appropriate sanctions.
what happens if the summons is returned by the sheriff without being served on any or all of the defendants?
the court may authorize the plaintiff to cause the service of summons by other means available under the rules.
what happens when the plaintiff fails to comply with the order of serving the summons?
failure to comply with the order of service of summons shall cause the dismissal of the initiatory pleading without prejudice.
what is the general rule on the uniformity of the rules of summons?
the rules of summons apply with equal force in actions before the RTC, MTC, MTCC, MCTC and MTTTC.
what is the exception to the general rule of uniformity of the rules of summons?
- where a particular provision expressly or impliedly applies only to either of the said courts, or
- in civil cases governed by the Rule on Summary Procedure.
what is the rule in case of failure of the sheriff to serve summons?
the plaintiff may request to the court that he be allowed to serve the summons.
what is the lifespan of the summons?
summons shall remain valid until duly served, unless recalled by the court.
remedy in the event that the summons is destroyed or lost in the hands of the plaintiff or the sheriff?
the court may issue an alias summons.
what is an alias summons?
the summons that is issued when the original has not produced its effects because of a defect in form or in the manner of service, and when issued supersedes the first writ.
what is the hierarchy in the service of summons?
- service in person on defendant
- substituted service
- service by publication
true or false: failure to comply faithfully, strictly, and fully with all the foregoing requirements of substituted service renders the service of summons ineffective.
true.
when are summons served during the day?
summons may be served at any time of the day.
where can summons be served?
- at the residence of the defendant
- defendant’s place of office
- any other place where he or she could be found.