How may improper service affect a court case?

Improper service can significantly impact a court case by leading to delays or potential dismissal of claims. When a defendant is not properly served with legal documents, they may not have the opportunity to respond to a lawsuit, which can undermine the integrity of the judicial process. This improper service can result in the court being unable to exercise jurisdiction over the defendant, which may necessitate additional steps to re-serve the defendant correctly or even lead to the dismissal of the case altogether due to the failure to follow proper protocol. As a result, the plaintiff may face increased delays in obtaining their desired resolution, and in some instances, they may have to start the process over from the beginning. Thus, the impact of improper service is serious, directly affecting the timeline and viability of the claims presented in court.