Estate of Yonadav Hirshfeld v. Islamic Republic of Iran

235 F. Supp. 3d 45, 2017 WL 361062, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10113

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: January 25, 2017
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2015-1082
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY, United States District Judge

Plaintiffs, the Estate, heirs, survivors, and immediate family members of Yona-dav Hirshfeld, bring this action pursuant to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1602, et seq., alleging that Defendant Islamic Republic of Iran and its agents materially' supported and caused the terrorist shooting that resulted in Mr. Hirshfeld’s death. Presently before the Court is Plaintiffs’ [17] Motion for Order Accepting Effectiveness of Service on Defendant Islamic Republic of Iran, seeking an order holding that the requirements for service under the FSIA have been satisfied in this action. For the reasons described herein, the.Court finds that Plaintiffs failed to properly serve Defendant and, as such, shall deny the motion without prejudice.

The FSIA provides the requirements for service on a foreign state or its political subdivisions. 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(j)(1). Pursuant to the FSIA, there are four methods of service which are set forth in descending order of preference. First, service may be effected “by delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint in accordance with any special arrangement for service between the plaintiff and the foreign state or political subdivision.” 18 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(1). Second, service may be accomplished “by delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint in accordance with an applicable international convention on service of judicial documents.” Id. § 1608(a)(2). Third, if service cannot be made by the first two methods, service may be accomplished

by sending a copy of the summons and complaint and a notice of suit, together with a translation of each into the official language of the foreign state, by any form of mail requiring a signed receipt, tó be addressed and dispatched by the clerk of the court to the head of the ministry of foreign affairs of the foreign state concerned.

M § 1608(a)(3). Fourth, if service cannot be made pursuant to the other three, methods, service can be effectuated through the Secretary of State. Id. § 1608(a)(4).

. Plaintiffs initiated this action on July 10, 2015, through the filing of their Complaint. See Compl., ECF No. [1]. On December 8, 2015, Plaintiffs filed their Amended Complaint and a request that the Clerk’s Office take the steps necessary to effectuate service pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(4). See Am. Compl., ECF No [7]; Pls.’ Letter, ECF No. [8]. On December 14, 2015, the Clerk of the Court issued a Certificate of Mailing, indicating that two copies of the summons, Amended Complaint, and notice of suit, along with a translation, were sent by certified mail to the U.S. Department of State pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(4). Cert. of Mailing, ECF No. [10]. On March 13,2016, the Clerk of the Court entered on the docket a letter from the U.S. Department of State as well as a diplomatic note, indicating that the documents were delivered to the Iranian Ministry .of Foreign Affairs on January 31, 2016. 1 Return of Service, ECF No. [11]. On April 8, 2016, Plaintiffs filed an Affidavit Requesting Foreign Mailing pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(3). On April 14, 2016, the Clerk of the Court filed a Certificate of Mailing, indicating that one copy of the summons, complaint, and notice of suit, along with a translation, was sent by registered mail to the head of the ministry of foreign affairs pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(3), on April 12, 2016. Cert. of Mailing, ECF No.' [16]. In .sum, Plaintiffs completed the steps to serve a foreign state pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(4), and subsequently completed the steps to serve a foreign state pursuant to § 1608(a)(3). Plaintiffs now seek for the Court to issue an order declaring that service was effective.

“When -serving a foreign sovereign, ‘strict adherence to the terms of 1608(a) is required.’ ” Barot v. Embassy of Zambia, 785 F.3d 26, 27 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (quoting Transaero, Inc. v. La Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, 30 F.3d 148, 154 (D.C. Cir. 1994)). The clear language of the statute provides that service may be accomplished pursuant to § 1608(a)(3) only if service cannot be made pursuant to subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2). Further, the statute indicates that , service may be made pursuant to § 1608(a)(4), “if service cannot be made within 30 days under paragraph (3).” Here, the'record reflects that Plaintiffs attempted service pursuant , to § 1608(a)(4) through a mailing delivered on January 31, 2016, and then attempted service pursuant to § 1608(a)(3) through a mailing on April 12, 2016. As such, Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate “strict adherence” tó the terms of § 1608(a) because they failed to attempt to serve Defendant pursuant to the sequence required for service under the statute.

■ Plaintiffs note that they attempted ’service pursuant to § 1608(a)(4) without first attempting service pursuant to § 1608(a)(3) based on language found in the 2014 version of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia’s Attorney Manual for Service of Process on a Foreign Defendant (“Attorney Manual”). In relevant part, the Attorney Manual notes,that Iran has not objected to service by mail but many attempts to serve by mail or courier are unsuccessful. As such, the Attorney Manual states, “it is okay for an attorney to request service directly through diplomatic . channels (28 U.S.C. § 1608(a)(4)) without attempting service under any other provisions first.” 2 ■ Att’y Manual § I(B)(ll)(f).- As Plaintiffs note, District Judge Royce C. Lamberth recently rejected the-argument that language in the Attorney Manual permits a plaintiff to attempt service pursuant to § 1608(a)(4), without first attempting service pursuant to subsection (a)(3). In reaching this decision, Judge Lamberth explained that the Attorney Manual “only speak[s] of § 1608(a)(3) as a bureaucratic prerequisite to requesting service through diplomatic means-from the Clerk’s. Office and State Department,” and noted the Attorney Manual had “no bearing on this proceeding or this Court.” Relvas v. Islamic Republic of Iran, No. 14-cv-01752-RCL (D.D.C. Feb. 18, 2016) (Mem. & Order) at 3, ECF No. [32]. Rather, Judge Lamberth explained: “The exclusive manner to demonstrate that service cannot be effected within thirty days under § 1608(a)(3) is to attempt such service.” Id. Plaintiffs argue that Relvas is distinguishable because the plaintiffs in that case never attempted service under § 1608(a)(3).

Here, Plaintiffs argue that they have now attempted service both' under § 1608(a)(3) and (a)(4) and, as such, the Court should find that they substantially complied with the requirements of the statute. Plaintiffs recognize that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Transaero, Inc. v. La Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, 30 F.3d 148 (D.C. Cir. 1994), noted that “strict adherence” to § 1608(a) is required. Id. at 154. However, Plaintiffs seek to distinguish the instant action by noting that Transaero concerned a plaintiffs improper service of a foreign state under § 1608(b), rather than under § 1608(a) as was required. Rather, Plaintiffs argue that the Court should review service of process in this case to determine whether Plaintiffs “substantially complied” with the requirements of § 1608(a). In support of this contention, Plaintiffs cite Marlowe v. Argentine Naval Commission, 604 F.Supp. 703 (D.D.C. 1985), in which a district court found that the plaintiff substantially complied with a contract provision that provided a special arrangement for service pursuant to § 1608(a)(1) when the plaintiff sent the notice to a somewhat different address and, notably, the defendant did not dispute that it received the notice of the suit. Id. at 708. Plaintiffs argue that the Court should import the “substantial compliance” standard to this action and find that they have met the requirements of § 1608(a). Specifically, Plaintiffs note that while they attempted to effectuate service under § 1608(a)(3) after § 1608(a)(4), the requisite 30 days has passed since they attempted service under (a)(3) and it is now clear that this attempt was futile, However, the Court rejects this argument in light of the plain language of the statute. The statute provides that service pursuant to § 1608(a)(4) is permissible only if service cannot be made within 30 days under subsection (a)(3). Indeed, the statutory scheme clearly contemplates steps that must be taken in a particular sequence in order to properly effectuate service. Plaintiffs in this case do not dispute that they attempted service pursuant to § 1608(a)(3) only after attempting service pursuant to § 1608(a)(4). As such, the Court shall deny Plaintiffs' request that the Court issue an order accepting service as effective in this case.

Accordingly, it is this 25th day of January, 2017, hereby

ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ [17] Motion for Order Accepting Effectiveness of Service on Defendant Islamic Republic of Iran is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE; and it is further

ORDERED that, to the extent Plaintiffs seek to pursue their claims, they shall effectuate service on Defendant pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1608(a).

SO ORDERED.

1 . A second letter containing substantially the same information was posted on the docket on March 23, 2016. See Return of Service, ECF No. [12],

2 . The Court notes that the Attorney Manual was revised in March 2016, but still includes the language relied on by Plaintiffs.- Att'y ' Manual, D.D.C., http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/ sites/dcd/files/AttyForeignMIg201 ówAttach. pdf (last visited Jan. 25, 2017).