What can failure to properly serve a defendant in Arizona lead to?

In Arizona, failure to properly serve a defendant can indeed lead to prolonged legal proceedings or even dismissal of the case. Proper service of process is a fundamental requirement in legal proceedings, as it ensures that the defendant is notified of the lawsuit and has an opportunity to respond. If a defendant is not properly served, they may not be legally obligated to participate in the proceedings, which can result in delays as the plaintiff may need to attempt to serve the defendant again or address the issue through the court.

Moreover, if the court determines that service was not conducted correctly, it might dismiss the case altogether, requiring the plaintiff to start over from scratch, which adds to the judicial workload and increases the time until a resolution is reached. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to established procedures for service in order to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the legal process.