What’s New
A woman suing pop star Taylor Swift filed an affidavit on Monday detailing the difficulties she’s experiencing in serving the singer with the lawsuit.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over the case, ordered Swift’s legal team to respond to the affidavit on or before Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Kimberly Marasco, a Florida artist, filed the copyright lawsuit in April. She is asking the court for more than $7 million in damages, alleging that Swift’s songs and music videos have “creative elements” that copy her work without authorization or credit. The lawsuit cites several songs and videos from Swift’s albums Lover, Folklore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department.
Marasco filed an acknowledgment of service on December 9 after she issued a summons in the care of Florida’s secretary of state. In a motion filed two days later, she said she had “exhausted all other means to personally serve the defendant through traditional methods.”
Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
What To Know
Marasco asked the court for a hearing to discuss motions related to the service of the lawsuit.
In the affidavit filed on Monday, Marasco said Swift’s attorneys declined to waive service and did not respond to an email asking how Swift could be served.
Marasco said she turned to the secretary of state as “the last resort.” According to the affidavit, the secretary of state told Marasco that Swift could be served electronically on its website. The court must authorize this method of service.
Cannon has not yet ruled on whether service through the secretary of state is allowed in this case. She said the response by Swift’s attorneys should focus on Marasco’s efforts to complete service.
Earlier this month, Cannon granted Marasco “one final opportunity” to serve Swift and submit proof. The order gave Marasco until December 20 to complete the service. Cannon said she would dismiss the case if the deadline were not met.
What People Are Saying
Marasco, in the affidavit: “The plaintiff has provided sufficient evidence in support of effectuating service of process personally upon the defendant and requests the Court to consider all of the attempts made.”
Swift’s lawyers, Aaron S. Blynn and Katherine Wright Morrone, in a response filed on December 5: “Nothing has changed since this Court last denied Plaintiff’s requests. The Court should dismiss Plaintiff’s claims against Artist for failure to perfect service of process.”
What Happens Next
After Swift’s attorneys submit a response, Cannon will decide whether to grant Marasco’s request for a hearing.
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