Suit Served by Social Media: Bill Would Allow Suits to be Served on Defendants via Social Media: HB 1989, filed by Re Jeff Leach, R-Plano, would all allow service of lawsuit citations by social media if other traditional means of service cannot be effectuated. The text of the bill is as follows:
Sec. 17.031. SUBSTITUTED SERVICE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE
(a) If substituted service of citation is authorized under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the court may prescribe as a method of service under those rules an electronic communication sent to the defendant through a social media website if the court finds that:
(1) the defendant maintains a social media page on that website;
(2) the profile on the social media page is the profile of the defendant;
(3) the defendant regularly accesses the social media page account; and
(4) the defendant could reasonably be expected to receive actual notice if the electronic communication were sent to the defendant’s account.
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