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Question
An action is filed in the Regional Trial Court by a private plaintiff against a private individual who is a resident of a subdivision. After reasonable diligence, personal service cannot be effected at the defendant’s residence or place of business. Substituted service is attempted by delivering the summons to the defendant’s adult nephew who resides with him at 12 Maple Street, and by leaving a copy with the building manager and posting a copy on the front door of the dwelling. The defendant does not appear. (a) Identify the controlling doctrine on substituted service and apply it to the facts to determine whether service on the nephew constitutes valid substituted service; explain whether the acts of leaving a copy with the building manager and posting affect validity. (b) If substituted service on the nephew is valid, outline the steps necessary to evidence service and the consequences for the court’s jurisdiction; if it is not valid, describe the proper alternative modes to effect service and the implications if service remains defective.