The law requires publication of notice against unserved defendants in various cases such as Demolition, Foreclosures, Heat, Vacant Building, and others to perfect service. At minimum, one notice is required and this publication is referred to as a default publication. In order for the City to obtain jurisdiction over the property, the law requires that defendants be served by personal service or by publication. A publication is necessary in every case where unknown owners cannot be personally served. Additionally, every demolition and foreclosure case includes as defendants, “Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants.” The law requires that the notice be published in one newspaper of general circulation, in the event of a foreclosure sale, the law requires two publications: a publication in a general circulation newspaper and a publication in a local newspaper where the property being sold is located. A publication schedule must be followed and is determined by the required legal procedures involved in the various lawsuits that the City handles. In addition to the publication services, certification and follow-up services are also required. Certification is required as proof of service and follow-up services include verification of accuracy, online access to publication notices and bill of costs for inclusion in legal documents and filings, and option to request mail notification. Accuracy and timeliness are essential. Therefore, accuracy is required including the responsibility to correct any errors in the default publication and secondary publication that may arise. Delays in publication would bring all applicable City lawsuits to a complete halt, inhibit the City’s ability to proceed with the foreclosure of properties, and reduce the ability of the City to promptly wreck vacant and dangerous buildings. The services covered by this RFP do not constitute the practice of law since the work is a publication of information provided by the Department of Law to the Contractor.
