Sellers v. High Point Memorial Hospital, Inc.

ORR, Judge.

Plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in dismissing its suit based upon a six-month delay in service of process. Under G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4(a), when a plaintiff files a complaint, a summons must be issued within five days and delivered to the sheriff of the county “where service is to be made” or another person “authorized by law to serve summons.” Service must be made within 30 days under Rule 4(c) unless otherwise excepted. Id. A summons may be extended by obtaining an alias and pluries summons pursuant to Rule 4(d). Id.

In the case sub judice, plaintiffs maintain that their…