[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR15.3]

[Page 164]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 15--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A--Service of Process
 
Sec. 15.3  Acceptance of service of process.

    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, any summons or 
complaint to be served in person or by registered or certified mail or 
as otherwise authorized by law on the Department, a component or the 
Secretary or a Department employee in their official capacity, shall be 
served on the General Counsel of the United States Department of 
Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.
    (b) Any summons or complaint to be served in person or by registered 
or certified mail or as otherwise authorized by law on the Patent and 
Trademark Office or the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks or an 
employee of the Patent and Trademark Office in his or her official 
capacity, shall be served on the Solicitor for the Patent and Trademark 
Office or a Department employee designated by the Solicitor.
    (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, any component or 
Department employee served with a summons or complaint shall immediately 
notify and deliver the summons or complaint to the office of the General 
Counsel. Any employee of the Patent and Trademark Office served with a 
summons or complaint shall immediately notify and deliver the summons or 
complaint to the office of the Solicitor.
    (d) Any Department employee receiving a summons or complaint shall 
note on the summons or complaint the date, hour, and place of service 
and whether service was by personal delivery or by mail.
    (e) When a legal proceeding is brought to hold a Department employee 
personally liable in connection with an action taken in the conduct of 
official business, rather than liable in an official capacity, the 
Department employee by law is to be served personally with process. 
Service of process in this case is inadequate when made upon the General 
Counsel or the Solicitor or their designees. Except as otherwise 
provided in this subpart, a Department employee sued personally for an 
action taken in the conduct of official business shall immediately 
notify and deliver a copy of the summons or complaint to the office of 
the General Counsel. Any employee of the Patent and Trademark Office 
sued personally for an action taken in the conduct of official business 
shall immediately notify and deliver a copy of the summons or complaint 
to the Office of the Solicitor.
    (f) A Department employee sued personally in connection with 
official business may be represented by the Department of Justice at its 
discretion. See 28 CFR 50.15 and 50.16 (1987).
    (g) The General Counsel or Solicitor or Department employee 
designated by either, when accepting service of process for a Department 
employee in an official capacity, shall endorse on the Marshal's or 
server's return of service form or receipt for registered or certified 
mail the following statement: ``Service accepted in official capacity 
only.'' The statement may be placed on the form or receipt with a rubber 
stamp.
    (h) Upon acceptance of service or receiving notification of service, 
as provided in this section, the General Counsel and Solicitor shall 
take appropriate steps to protect the rights of the Department, 
component, the Secretary or Department employee involved.