What to do when the defendant disappears?

[jcamber]

My wife was attacked by three dogs and one of them bit her once but pretty bad, broke skin and bruised all around. She was pregnant with 5 months at the time. I took her to the hospital during work hours.

I went over to see the owners once I had bills for everything but to my surprise they were moving out!. They rejected any of my bills so I got mad and left. I called the small claims court and they told me I can't sue unless I have a valid address for the defendant.

I've been thinking about hiring a private investigator to find these people and get their new address then add that to what I will sue for.

Any ideas how to get justice done?
thanks!

 

[JETX]

One thing you can do is contact the landlord for the house where they were (I assume they were renting since they were moving so quickly).

Another is to send a letter to them at their last known address. Be sure to note "ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED" on the envelope. Then if the subject moved within 12 months with a COA (Change of Address), the PO will forward your letter to them AND will send you a notice of their new address (for a small charge).

Here is what the US Post Office says about this address service:
"Months 1 - 12: mailpiece forwarded; no charge;
separate notice of new address provided; address
correction fee charged.

Months 13 - 18: mailpiece returned with new address attached; no charge.

After month 18, or if undeliverable: mailpiece returned with reason for nondelivery attached; no charge."

Or, if you don't want the subject to know that you are after them, note "RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED" on the envelope. Then the "Mailpiece will be returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached; no charge."