Service of notices permitted or required under the Construction Lien Law, or copies of notices when so permitted or required, unless otherwise specifically provided, must be made:
- by actual delivery to the person to be served; if a partnership, to one of the partners; if a corporation, to an officer, director, managing agent, or business agent; or, if a limited liability company, to a member or manager; or
- by common carrier delivery service or by registered, Global Express Guaranteed, or certified mail, with postage or shipping paid by the sender and with evidence of delivery, which may be in an electronic format. Fla. Stat. § 713.18
The terms "managing agent" or "business agent," in Fla. Stat. § 713.18 require actual delivery to an officer, director, managing agent or business agent. Florida courts have held that these terms connote one who acts as a representative of the corporation and who officially speaks for it in its local business affairs as opposed to a mere employee. See Cont'l Home Parks, Inc. v. Golden Triangle Asphalt Paving Co., 291 So. 2d 49, 50 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1974). If service of notices by actual delivery or by mail cannot be accomplished, then posting on the site of the improvement is permitted. Fla. Stat. § 713.18.
The Plaintiff in an action to enforce a construction lien must allege service of notice in accordance with If a plaintiff fails to allege service of notice in accordance with Fla. Stat. § 713.18. The plaintiff is entitled to amend his or her complaint to allege valid service prior to dismissal of the complaint for failure to follow the statute. S & S Air Conditioning Co. v. Cantor, 313 So. 2d 422 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975).
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
