If you file a lawsuit against a police department and an officer alleging a civil rights violation, how do you file the lawsuit? Do you serve the police agency at its main office? How do you serve the officer?
If you file a lawsuit against a police department and an officer alleging a civil rights violation, how do you file the lawsuit? Do you serve the police agency at its main office? How do you serve the officer?
Depending on the issue behind the lawsuit, it may be necessary to bring any such case in the court of claims, not a regular trial court. You can also anticipate that the police department and lawyer will be well-represented. A pro se litigant who has failed to find a lawyer willing to take a civil rights case against a police officer or department is likely to found out that the reason why is that they don't have a viable case.
Service is as outlined in the court rules. However, the police agency may have a legal department, or there may be a city or township attorney who is willing to accept service on behalf of the officer and department. If you want to explore that latter possibility, call the appropriate law department or lawyer and ask if they will accept service.