Subpoenas, Summons, and Complaints

Service of Summonses and Complaints

The CSU is the State of California acting in its higher education capacity. The CSU is governed by the Board of Trustees of the California State University, which is the only proper entity to be named in a civil suit. Individual campuses are not separate legal entities and cannot appear as parties in any lawsuit.

The Board of Trustees of the California State University may be served only at the CSU's Office of General Counsel or through the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California Department of Justice.

The Office of General Counsel is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of the Board of Trustees, individually named Trustees, the Chancellor, and/or the campus Presidents by either personal service or mail service by notice and acknowledgement of receipt in state court actions (Code Civ. Proc. § 415.3) or waiver of service in federal court actions (FRCP 4(d)). The Office of the Attorney General can accept personal service on behalf of the Board of Trustees, but not any individually named defendants. CSU campuses are not authorized to accept service of process on behalf of these parties.

Other than the parties listed above, all other individuals associated with CSU must be served wherever they are located as provided by the appropriate statute.

Serving Subpoenas on Campus

Persons attempting to serve a subpoena to the Custodian of Records for Sonoma State University, should do so at Risk Management and Safety Services offices. Full address for the offices are: 

Questions regarding service of subpoenas should be directed to risk@sonoma.edu. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I receive a subpoena? Or what do i do if I am visited by a process server?

If a process server seeks to serve you with a subpoena related to a student or student records, direct that individual to the office of Risk Management and Safety Services in Salazar Hall. 

What do I do if I receive a subpoena for personnel or administrative records?

If a process server seeks to serve you with a subpoena related to a university employee or administrative records, direct that individual to Risk Management and Safety Services, 2nd Floor, Salazar Hall. 

Who can I call with questions?

Contact Megan Varnadore or Tyson Hill if you have any questions.