What does 'service by publication' mean in my case?

It means the court is notifying the defendant by public notice because personal service could not be made; this starts the response deadline under Alabama law.

What happens if the defendant doesn't respond?

A default judgment may be entered against the nonresponding defendant, allowing the plaintiff to seek the damages requested.

Court Notice — Dale (CV-2025-900210.00)

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Motor vehicle damages

Affects:DefendantsCreditorsGeneral Public

Plaintiff James Thomas Owens, Jr. has filed a civil lawsuit in Dale County Circuit Court against Joshua Scott Motley and two insurance companies for damages from a motor vehicle collision; Motley is being served by publication because his whereabouts are unknown.

Key Takeaways

Civil suit filed: CV-2025-900210.00 in Dale County Circuit Court
Defendant Joshua Scott Motley is being served by publication
Claims seek damages from a motor vehicle collision
Allstate and ALFA Mutual are named as co-defendants

Published: May 14, 2026 · 5 days ago
Category: Court Notice
City: Dale
Case #

CV-2025-900210.00

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If you don't respond

If Joshua Scott Motley does not respond within the time allowed after publication (as set by Alabama service rules), a default judgment may be entered against him, potentially awarding the plaintiff damages sought.

What to do next

1
Check the publication notice dates
Review the newspaper notice schedule to determine the exact response deadline under Alabama service rules.
2
Contact the plaintiff's attorney
If you are Joshua Scott Motley, contact the plaintiff or their attorney immediately to obtain the complaint and respond to avoid default.
3
Consult a defense attorney
Speak with a lawyer about contesting service, filing a timely answer, or other defenses before the court's deadline.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'service by publication' mean in my case?: It means the court is notifying the defendant by public notice because personal service could not be made; this starts the response deadline under Alabama law.
Who filed the lawsuit and against whom?: James Thomas Owens, Jr. filed the suit against Joshua Scott Motley, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and ALFA Mutual Insurance Company.
What happens if the defendant doesn't respond?: A default judgment may be entered against the nonresponding defendant, allowing the plaintiff to seek the damages requested.

The suggestions and answers above are AI-generated for general information only. They can be wrong, and we don't take responsibility for their accuracy. Talk to a qualified professional before acting on them.

Legal terms in this notice

service by publication: A method of notifying a defendant of a lawsuit by publishing notice in a newspaper when their location is unknown.
complaint: The initial court document that explains the plaintiff's claims and the relief requested.
default judgment: A court decision entered against a party who fails to respond or appear in the case.

Full Notice Text

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF DALE COUNTY,ALABAMA, CIVIL DIVISIONJAMES THOMAS OWENS, JR., an individual,	 )					 )	 Plaintiff,				 )					 )v.					 )	 CIVIL ACTION NO.:					 )	 CV-2025-900210.00JOSHUA SCOTT MOTLEY, an individual,	 )ALLTATE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY	 )INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation, and 	 )ALFA MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY,	 )a corporation,				 )					 )	 Defendants.			 )					 )					 )NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION	 TO: JOSHUA SCOTT MOTLEYYou are hereby notified that James Thomas Owens, Jr. has filed a civil actionagainst you in the Circuit Court of Dale County, Alabama, styled James ThomasOwens, Jr. v. Joshua Scott Motley, Allstate Property and Casualty InsuranceCompany, and Alfa Mutual Insurance Company, Civil Action No. CV-2025-900210.00.The Complaint seeks damages arising out of a motor vehicle collision that oc-curred on or about