In a fascinating development, albeit packed with potential problems, a judge in New York has allowed serving legal notice via social network. The New York Post article reported that “in a groundbreaking court ruling, a Staten Island man got permission to use Facebook to serve his ex-wife legal notice that he doesn’t want to pay any more child support.” The article quoted lawyer Michael Stutman of Mishchon de Reya in Manhattan as saying “the idea that physically handing someone a piece of paper is the only way to serve notice is archaic.”
While this was the decision for a specific case, what are the ramifications of a broader acceptance of social networks as a forum for legal notice? Questions would arise such as who should or could give legal notice in this way and how is receipt of notice guaranteed?
