Canterbury v. Monroe Lange Hardwood Imports Division of MacRose Industries Corp.

HEDRICK, Judge.

The question on which resolution of this appeal turns is whether substituted service of process on the Secretary of State was proper. For the reasons to follow, we are constrained to hold that it was not, even though the defendant admittedly had actual notice and even though we are satisfied that minimum contacts exist between this defendant and the State of North Carolina to permit this State constitutionally to exercise jurisdiction had service been effective.

Before we reach the ultimate issue respecting service and although we bottom our affirmation of the order dismissing…