Rule Text
If the return is defective, the court issuing the writ, on the court’s own motion or that of any party, may order a further return. The court may compel obedience to the writ or to such order by attachment or citation for contempt.
Amendment history: Report 1943; October 31, 1997, effective January 24, 1998; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002; October 31, 2008, effective January 1, 2009
Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)
This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
If a court officer's report on serving legal papers (called a "return") is filled out wrong or is missing information, the court can step in and fix the problem. Either the court itself or one of the people involved in the case can ask for a corrected or more complete report to be filed.
If the person who was supposed to file the return doesn't cooperate, the court has ways to force the issue. It can have that person arrested and brought before the court, or it can hold them in contempt of court, which can lead to fines or other penalties. This rule basically gives the court the power to make sure paperwork gets done correctly, even if it means using serious pressure to get compliance.