[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 6, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 6CFR5.42]

[Page 27]
 
                       TITLE 6--HOMELAND SECURITY
 
   CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
 
PART 5_DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS AND INFORMATION--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart C_Disclosure of Information in Litigation
 
Sec.  5.42  Service of summonses and complaints.

    (a) Only the Office of the General Counsel is authorized to receive 
and accept on behalf of the Department summonses or complaints sought to 
be served upon the Department, the Secretary, or Department employees. 
All such documents should be delivered or addressed to the Office of the 
General Counsel, United States Department of Homeland Security, 
Washington, DC, 20258. The authorization for receipt shall in no way 
affect the requirements of service elsewhere provided in applicable 
rules and regulations.
    (b) In the event any summons or complaint described in Sec.  5.41(a) 
is delivered to an employee of the Department other than in the manner 
specified in this part, the recipient thereof shall decline to accept 
the proffered service and may notify the person attempting to make 
service of the Departmental regulations set forth herein.
    (c) Except as otherwise provided Sec. Sec.  5.42(d) and 5.43(c), the 
Department is not an authorized agent for service of process with 
respect to civil litigation against Department employees purely in their 
personal, non-official capacity. Copies of summonses or complaints 
directed to Department employees in connection with legal proceedings 
arising out of the performance of official duties may, however, be 
served upon the Office of the General Counsel.
    (d) Although the Department is not an agent for the service of 
process upon its employees with respect to purely personal, non-official 
litigation, the Department recognizes that its employees should not use 
their official positions to evade their personal obligations and will, 
therefore, counsel and encourage Department employees to accept service 
of process in appropriate cases.
    (e) Documents for which the Office of the General Counsel accepts 
service in official capacity only shall be stamped ``Service Accepted in 
Official Capacity Only''. Acceptance of service shall not constitute an 
admission or waiver with respect to jurisdiction, propriety of service, 
improper venue, or any other defense in law or equity available under 
applicable laws or rules.