4.15 Unknown defendant

If you're filing a lawsuit but don't know the name of the person you need to sue, you can still move forward with your case. You simply list that person as an "unknown defendant" in your complaint and in the court papers you use to notify them of the lawsuit.

Later, if you find out who this person is or where they live, you need to update your complaint with that new information. This keeps the case moving forward even when you start out without knowing exactly who you're dealing with. It also makes sure the court records stay accurate once you get the missing details.

This rule mainly helps people who know they were wronged by someone, but don't yet know that person's identity. For example, you might know a delivery driver damaged your property, but you don't know their name. You can start your lawsuit right away and add their name later once you track it down.