In response to the closure orders issued by Governor Tom Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney and the guidance of public health officials concerning the COVID-19 public health emergency, the physical offices of the City of Philadelphia Law Department will remain closed to the public until further notice. Our attorneys, legal assistants, and other personnel are working remotely to the extent possible until closure orders are lifted.

This posting serves as notice that initial service of process be directed electronically to the City of Philadelphia Law Department via City_Closure_Complaints@phila.gov.  Documents sent to any other email address or via the United States Postal Service, Federal Express, courier services, facsimile, or other such means will not be read, processed, be deemed served or timely received. The City of Philadelphia expressly reserves the right to challenge any claims of service of process or mailing should papers and documents be transmitted or delivered to the City in any manner inconsistent with the electronic transmission protocol contained in this notice.

If you are seeking to have the City of Philadelphia accept service on any party other than the City of Philadelphia, please list these parties in the e-mail. For each party, the City will respond that it will either accept service, not accept service or that it needs more time to determine whether it will reject or accept service.

EMERGENCY FILINGS concerning the Department of Licenses and Inspections or Department of Public Health should be directed to Kristin K. Bray, Chief Deputy City Solicitor (kristin.bray@phila.gov). All other emergency filings should be directed to Renee Garcia, Chair – Litigation Group (renee.garcia@phila.gov).

Please note that we will return to normal business practices with respect to service of process and incoming hard copy mail once the closure orders are lifted