Clough v. Chatfield

VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION
Orange Unit Case No. 24-CV-05546
5 Court Street
Chelsea VT 05038
802-685-4610
www.vermontjudiciary.org
Hope Clough et al v. Barbara Chatfield et al
ENTRY REGARDING MOTION

Title: Motion for Extension of Time; Motion for Alternative Service with
Certificate of Service; (Motion: 5; 6)
Filer: Hope A. Clough; Michelle A Clough; Hope A. Clough; Michelle A Clough
Filed Date: April 14, 2025; April 24, 2025
The motion is DENIED IN PART.

In its March 26, 2025 Order, the Court explicitly required Plaintiffs to file

returns of service with the Court for the various defendants that Plaintiffs claimed

had been served or would be served pursuant to Rule 4 of the Vermont Rules of Civil

Procedure.

To date, the Court has not received any returns of service for any Defendants

in this matter. Before any further extension is granted Plaintiffs must file with the

Court either: (1) the waiver of service form signed by the particular defendant, or

(2) the formal return of service provided to them by the process server who served

the particular defendant pursuant to Rule 4 or the relevant rule of service for the

state where the defendant resides. Plaintiffs must file either the waiver of service

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24-CV-05546 Hope Clough et al v. Barbara Chatfield et al
form or the formal return of service for each and every defendant in this matter,

except for Mr. Terry and for the Estate of Claude Moulton. These documents must

be filed with the Court on or before May 8, 2025. If these documents are filed, then

the Court will grant the extension sought. If these documents are not filed, then the

Court will dismiss this matter for a failure to establish that service has occurred and

for failure to prosecute under V.R.C.P. 41(b).

Motions for Alternative Service

Plaintiffs also seek permission to serve Peter Terry and the Estate of Claude

Moulton by alternative means. Plaintiffs’ motion, which is not accompanied by an

affidavit makes several representations. The Court will analyze them separately.

First, Plaintiffs claim that 14 V.S.A. § 1051 prevents them from personally

serving the Estate of Claude Moulton as the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction

over the administration of an Estate. Plaintiffs misinterpret this provision to mean

that the Probate Division of the Superior Court or the Probate Registrar acts as an

agent on behalf of the estate.

Under 14 V.S.A. § 1401, executors and administrators of an estate may either

sue or defend claims that “are necessary for the recovery and protection of the

property or rights of the deceased . . . .” Moreover, 14 V.S.A. § 1451 allows such

actions concerning the conversion, trespass, or for damages to the real or personal

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estate of the decedent to survive and be brought either by or against the executor or

administrator of an estate. Estate of Kuhling by Kuhling v. Glaze, 2018 VT 75, ¶¶

13–16. Such claims are litigated in the civil division, and they are brought by or

against the executor or administrator for the estate. Id. at ¶¶ 1, 12–16; see also 14

V.S.A. § 1453 (“Actions based thereon may be commenced and prosecuted by or

against the executor or administrator.”).

Based on these statutes, Plaintiffs are obligated to serve the

executor/administrator of the estate who would act to defend the estate. It is

unclear what Plaintiffs see as a barrier to effectuating such service. They appear to

want to perform such service themselves, but as the Court has previously noted,

Vermont Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c) does not allow the Plaintiffs to serve other

parties. Service must be performed “by a sheriff or deputy sheriff, by a constable or

other person authorized by law, or by some indifferent person specially appointed

for that purpose by any superior judge . . . .” V.R.C.P. 4(c).

Part of the problem may arise from Plaintiff’s second issue, which concerns

service on Peter Terry. As part of their motion for alternative service, Plaintiffs

claim that they have been obstructed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Plaintiffs represent that after repeated inquiries the Sheriff’s Office has subjected

them to “verbal intimidation and threats of criminal harassment” and have not

provided them with either a return of service or update on service.

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Setting aside the lack or affidavit, Plaintiffs motion does not demonstrate a

breakdown in the service process. Plaintiffs’ concerns about this issue may arise

from a misunderstanding. When this Court sets a deadline for service, it is binding

only on Plaintiff. It is not binding on the process server. If service appears to be

taking longer than the time set out by the Court, then it is the plaintiff’s duty to

motion the Court for an extension and citing the delay in service. While it is the

Court’s presumption that the Sheriff’s Office acts to serve defendants in a timely

manner, it is also not uncommon for such duties to be delayed or require extensions

of time. In such cases, the remedy is simply to grant an extension and deliver the

extension to the Sheriff to make them aware and to add it to the service packet.

At this time, this time, the Court does not find good grounds to either suspend

or to go around the rules of formal process.1 As the Court has indicated in prior

decisions, the need for service is two-fold. It is a form of notice to the defendant,

but it is also a formal assertion of jurisdiction, and if the defendant does not

voluntarily agree to such jurisdiction, it must be formally asserted through service.

This is not something that the Court will lightly waive of excuse Plaintiffs from

obtaining. It is one of the first and most necessary steps to bring a matter before

the Court for adjudication.

1 While the Court is providing some flexibility on this matter, Plaintiffs must comply with the Rules of

Service for this matter to advance, and their lack of compliance with such rules does not constitute a
failure of due process or basis to avoid the rules. See Zorn v. Smith, 2011 VT 10, ¶ 22 (noting that while
pro se litigants receive some leeway, they are bound by the rules of civil procedure).

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For these reasons, the Court Denies Plaintiff’s motion for either waiver of

service or alternative service on both Peter Terry and the Estate of Claude Moulton.

Both parties must be formally served.

The Court reserves on the issue of extending the time for service until

Plaintiffs can present the waivers or returns of service for the other Defendants in

this matter.

ORDER

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Alternative Service is Denied.

Plaintiffs’ Motion for an extension of time is taken under advisement pending

Plaintiffs’ filing of all other returns of service or waivers of service that they have

obtained. Plaintiffs have until May 8, 2025 to file the signed waivers of service or

returns of service for all defendants in this matter, except for Peter Terry and the

Estate of Claude Moulton. If such returns and waivers are not filed, then the Court

will dismiss the present action under V.R.C.P. 41(b). If the returns and waivers are

filed, then the Court will rule on Plaintiffs’ motion to enlarge the time for service.

Electronically signed on 4/28/2025 1:27 AM pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d)

__________________________________
Daniel Richardson
Superior Court Judge

Entry Regarding Motion
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