New York state law authorizes the “nail and mail” method of service, which authorizes the process server, after attempting service with “due diligence,” to (1) tape a copy of the summons and complaint to the door of the defendant's home or office; (2) mail a copy by first class mail to the defendant's home address; and ...
You can either answer the summons in writing or in person. If you answer in person, you must go to the courthouse clerk's office and tell the clerk about your defenses to the plaintiff's claims. The clerk will check off the boxes in a Consumer Credit Transaction Answer In Person form.
For each numbered paragraph in the complaint, type "Admitted" if you admit the allegation or "Denied" if you deny the allegation. If you don't have enough information to know whether the fact is true or false, respond with "Lack enough information to respond to Plaintiff's allegations."
Your answer should include the court name, case name, case number, and your affirmative defenses. Print three copies of your answer. File one with the clerk's office and mail (or “serve”) one to the plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney. The plaintiff is the debt collector, creditor, or law firm suing you.
The written response must be made within 20 days of personal service, or within 30 days of the time when service by any other means is complete. If the defendant fails to respond he or she is in default and plaintiff may be able to obtain a default judgment against the defendant.
When drafting an answer, one must: (1) follow the local, state, and federal court rules; (2) research the legal claims in the adversary's complaint; (3) respond to the adversary's factual allegations; and (4) assert affirmative defenses, counterclaims, cross-claims, or third-party claims, if applicable.
If the motion to dismiss is convincing, you might have to present your own affidavits and documents to prove that the allegations did occur as you have described, or at least there is a question about the facts of the case as to whether or not what you have alleged actually happened.