Case Information
*1 138 Nev., Advance Opinion 10
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA MARIA DEL ROSARIO CERVANTES- No. 83156 GUEVARA, Petitioner, vs.
FL THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT LJ COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF
MAR 03 2022 CLARK; AND THE HONORABLE ERIKA D. BALLOU, DISTRICT JUDGE, Respondents,
and MARK THOMAS ANDERSON; AND THOR DEVELOPMENT, LLC, A LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION, Real Parties in Interest.
Original petition for a writ of mandamus challenging a district court order denying a motion to enlarge time for service and serve by publication and dismissing a complaint as to the party who was not timely served.
Petition denied. Bighorn Law and Jacqueline R. Bretell and Joshua P. Berrett, North Las Vegas, for Petitioner. Messner Reeves LLP and M. Caleb Meyer and Scott L. Rogers, Las Vegas, for Real Party in Interest Mark Thomas Anderson.
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA ( 01 1947A 464. *2 R e s n i c k & L ou i s , P . C ., a nd P r e s c o tt T . J on e s a nd K a tl yn M . B r a dy , L a s V e g a s , f o r R ea l P a r t y i n I n t e r e s t T ho r D e v e l op m e n t , LL C . B E F O R E T H E S U P R E M E C OU R T , E N B AN C .
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P I N I O N B y t h e C ou r t , HA R D E S T Y , J . : R u l e 4 o f t h e N e v a d a R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e ( N RC P ) s e t s f o r t h t h e r e qu i r e m e n t s f o r s u mm on s a nd s e r v i ce o f c i v il c o m p l a i n t s . S p ec i f i ca ll y , N RC P 4 ( e ) g i v e s p l a i n ti ff s 120 d a y s a f t e r f ili ng a c i v il c o m p l a i n t i n t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t t o s e r v e t h e d e f e nd a n t s w it h a s u mm on s a nd a c opy o f t h e c o m p l a i n t . N RC P 4 f u r t h e r p e r m it s a p l a i n ti ff t o r e qu e s t a n e x t e n s i on o f ti m e t o s e r v e p r o ce ss on a d e f e nd a n t i f t h e p l a i n ti ff i s un a b l e t o s e r v e t h e d e f e nd a n t w it h i n t h e 120 - d a y p e r i od . If a m o ti on d e m on s t r a ti ng good ca u s e i s ti m e l y f il e d b e f o r e t h e e xp i r a ti on o f t h e s e r v i ce p e r i od , o r a ny e x t e n s i on t h e r e o f , t h e c ou r t i s r e qu i r e d t o e x t e nd t h e s e r v i ce p e r i od a nd s e t a r ea s on a b l e d a t e by w h i c h s e r v i ce s hou l d b e m a d e . N RC P 4 ( e )( 3 ) . H o w e v e r , i f t h e p l a i n t i ff f a i l s t o t i m e l y m ov e t o e x t e nd t h e t i m e f o r s e r v i ce , t h e c ou r t m u s t d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r good ca u s e e x i s t s f o r t h e p l a i n ti ff s d e l a y i n f ili ng t h e m o ti on b e f o r e c on s i d e r i ng w h e t h e r good ca u s e e x i s t s f o r g r a n ti ng a n e x t e n s i on o f t h e s e r v i ce p e r i od . N RC P 4 ( e )( 4 ) .
O n M a r c h 12 , 2020 , N e v a d a G ov e r no r S t e v e S i s o l a k i s s u e d a n E m e r g e n c y D ec l a r a ti on d ec l a r i ng a s t a t e o f e m e r g e n c y r e l a t e d t o t h e C O V I D - 1 9 p a nd e m i c . S u b s e qu e n tl y , t h e G ov e r n o r i s s u e d a s e r i e s o f E m e r g e n c y D i r ec ti v e s t h a t i m p ac t e d t h e d a il y li v e s o f i nd i v i du a l s , bu s i n e ss e s , a nd gov e r n m e n t . S p ec i f i ca l l y , on A p r il 1 , 2020 , t h e G ov e r no r
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EV ADA [40] ) I [947] A [40112] , *3 i ss u e d E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) , w h i c h , a m o n g o t h er t h i n g s , t o ll e d a n y s p ec i f i c t i m e li m i t s s e t b y s t a t u t e o r re g u l a t i o n p er t a i n i n g t o t h e c o mm e n ce m e n t o f a n y l e ga l a c t i o n un t il 30 d ay s f r o m t h e d a t e t h e s t a t e o f e m er g e n c y w a s t er m i n a t e d . T h e G ov er n o r t h ere a ft er t er m i n a t e d E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) b y i ss u i n g E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 026 o n J un e 29 , 2020 . P u r s u a n t t o E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 026 , t h e t o lli n g p er i o d f o r c o mm e n c i n g l e ga l a c t i o n e nd e d o n J u l y 31 , 2020 , a t 11 : 59 p . m .
I n t h i s o r i g i n a l p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f m a nd a m u s , w e d e t er m i n e w h e t h er t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t w a s w i t h i n i t s d i s cre t i o n i n d e n y i n g , a s un t i m e l y , p e t i t i o n er M a r i a D e l R o s a r i o C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s s ec o nd m o t i o n t o e n l a r g e t i m e f o r s er v i ce o f p r o ce ss . I n a n a l y z i n g t h i s qu e s t i o n , w e c o n c l ud e t h a t E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) d i d n o t a p p l y t o c o u r t r u l e s a n d , t h u s , t h e d e a d li n e f o r s er v i ce und er N RC P 4 ( e ) w a s n o t t o l l e d b y t h e E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e . T h ere f o re , C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s m o t i o n w a s un t i m e l y und er NRC P 4 ( e )( 1 ) , a nd s h e d i d n o t d e m o n s t r a t e goo d c a u s e f o r h er d e l ay i n f ili n g t h e m o t i o n und er NRC P 4 ( e )( 3 ) . B ec a u s e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t m a n i f e s t l y a bu s e i t s d i s cre t i o n b y d e n y i n g C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s m o t i o n a nd d i s m i ss i n g h er c o m p l a i n t a s t o t h e p a r t y w h o m s h e f a il e d t o t i m e l y s er v e , w e d e n y t h e o r i g i n a l p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f m a nd a m u s .
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T S A ND P R O CE DU RA L H I S T O R Y I n e a r l y 2018 , C er va n t e s - G u e va r a a nd re a l p a r t y i n i n t ere s t M a r k T h o m a s A nd er s o n w ere i n vo l v e d i n a m o t o r v e h i c l e i n c i d e n t i n L a s V e ga s . O n Ja nu a r y 7 , 2020 , C er va n t e s - G u e va r a f il e d a c o m p l a i n t aga i n s t A nd er s o n a nd h i s e m p l oy er , re a l p a r t y i n i n t ere s t T h o r D e v e l o p m e n t , LL C , a ll e g i n g va r i o u s t o r t c l a i m s . U n d er NRC P 4 ( e )( 1 ) , t h e 120 - d ay d e a d li n e t o e f f e c t s e r v i c e o f p r o c e ss e x p i r e d o n M a y 6 , 2020 . C e r v a n t e s - G u e va r a un s u cce ss f u ll y a tt e m p t e d t o e ff ec t u a t e p er s o n a l s er v i ce o n A nd er s o n t h ree
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E V ADA 3 ( [01] I [947] A . [11410] . *4 t i m e s b e t w ee n F e b r u a r y 18 , 20 20 , a nd M a rc h 8 , 20 20 . O n M a rc h 1 2 , 202 0 , G ov er n o r S t e v e S i s o l a k d ec l a re d a s t a t e o f e m er g e n c y du e t o t h e C O V I D - 1 9 p a nd e m i c .
O n A p r il 1 , 2020 , t h e G ov er n o r i ss u e d E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) , s ec t i o n 2 o f w h i c h m a nd a t e d t h a t " [ a ] n y s p ec i f i c t i m e li m i t s e t b y s t a t e s t a t u t e o r re g u l a t i o n f o r t h e c o mm e n ce m e n t o f a n y l e ga l a c t i o n i s h ere b y t o ll e d f r o m t h e d a t e o f t h i s D i rec t i v e un t il 30 d ay s f r o m t h e d a t e t h e s t a t e o f e m er g e n c y d ec l a re d o n M a rc h 12 , 2020 i s t er m i n a t e d . " T h e G ov er n o r t er m i n a t e d t h e t o lli n g s ec t i o n o f t h e E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e o n J un e 29 , 2020 , a nd rec o mm e n ce d t h e t i m e t o ll e d a s o f A u g u s t 1 , 2020 . S ee E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e 026 ( J un e 29 , 2020 ) , § 5 .
O n M ay 6 , 2020 (t h e e x p i r a t i o n d a t e o f t h e NRC P 4 s er v i ce p er i o d ) , C er va n t e s - G u e va r a f il e d h er f i r s t e x p a r t e a pp li c a t i o n t o e n l a r g e t i m e f o r s er v i ce , s ee k i n g a n a dd i t i o n a l 90 d ay s a nd l e av e t o s er v e A nd er s o n b y pub li c a t i o n du e t o C O V I D - 19 s o c i a l - d i s t a n c i n g re s t r i c t i o n s . T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g r a n t e d t h e un o pp o s e d m o t i o n o n J un e 5 , 2020 , e x t e nd i n g t h e s er v i c e p er i o d un t il S e p t e m b er 3 , 2020 . C er va n t e s - G u e va r a d i d n o t pub li s h t h e f i r s t o f t h e f o u r re qu i re d n o t i ce s un t il O c t o b er 15 , 2020 , h o w e v er .
C er va n t e s - G u e va r a f il e d h er s ec o nd m o t i o n t o e n l a r g e t i m e f o r s er v i ce o n O c t o b er 28 , 2020 , s ee k i n g t o e x t e nd t h e s er v i ce p er i o d un t il D ece m b er 23 , 2020 . A nd er s o n a pp e a re d i n t h e a c t i o n t o o pp o s e t h e m o t i o n , a n d S e n i o r J ud g e Jo s e p h T . B o n av e n t u re i ss u e d m i n u t e s d e n y i n g C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s s ec o nd m o t i o n t o e n l a r g e t i m e o n D ece m b er 16 , 2020 , f i nd i n g t h a t t h e E m er g e n c y D i rec t i v e d i d n o t t o ll t h e t i m e f o r s er v i ce o f p r o ce ss a nd t h a t h er m o t i o n w a s un t i m e l y und er t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d er 2 0 - 17 , w h i c h re qu i re d m o t i o n s t o e x t e nd s er v i ce o f p r o ce s s d e a d li n e s f il e d a ft er J u l y 1 , 2020 , t o b e f il e d p r i o r t o t h e e x p i r a t i o n
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EV ADA 4 [10] i [1947] A ca li P . *5 o f t h e t i m e t o s er v e . 1 T h e m i nu t e s a l s o i nd i c a t e d t h a t A nd er s o n w o u l d b e d i s m i ss e d a s a p a r t y t o t h e a c t i o n .
C er va n t e s - G u e va r a f il e d a m o t i o n f o r rec o n s i d er a t i o n , a r g u i n g t h a t S e n i o r J ud g e B o n av e n t u re d i d n o t c o n s i d er w h e t h er goo d c a u s e e x i s t e d f o r C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s d e l ay i n f ili n g t h e m o t i o n . J ud g e E r i k a D . B a ll o u d e n i e d C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s m o t i o n f o r rec o n s i d er a t i o n i n a w r i tt e n o r d er i ss u e d o n M a rc h 22 , 2021 , f i nd i n g t h a t S e n i o r J ud g e B o n av e n t u re li k e l y c o n s i d ere d a ll f a c t o r s re qu i re d t o d e n y t h e m o t i o n t o e n l a r g e t i m e f o r s er v i ce , e v e n i f h i s f i nd i n g s w ere n o t pu t o n t h e rec o r d , a nd t h a t s h e w o u l d n o t s ub s t i t u t e h er j ud g m e n t f o r t h e j ud g e w h o o r i g i n a ll y h e a r d a nd r u l e d o n t h e m o t i o n . A ft er d e n y i n g t h e m o t i o n f o r rec o n s i d er a t i o n , J ud g e B a ll o u i ss u e d a w r i tt e n o r d e r o n J u l y 13 , 2021 , re f l e c t i n g S e n i o r J ud g e B o n av e n t u re s D ece m b er 16 r u li n g a nd d e n y i n g C er va n t e s - G u e va r a ' s s ec o nd m o t i o n t o e n l a r g e t i m e . C er va n t e s - G u e va r a f il e d t h i s o r i g i n a l p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f m a nd a m u s , a s k i n g t h i s c o u r t t o d i rec t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o va c a t e i t s o r d er d e n y i n g t h e e n l a r g e m e n t o f t i m e a nd d i s m i ss i n g A nd er s o n f r o m t h e a c t i o n . A nd er s o n f il e d a n a n s w er , a s d i rec t e d , 2 a nd C er va n t e s - G u e va r a f il e d a re p l y .
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I S C U S S I ON W h e t h e r t h i s c o u r t s h o u l d e n t e r t a i n t h i s w r it p e titi o n " A w r i t o f m a nd a m u s i s ava il a b l e t o c o m p e l t h e p er f o r m a n ce o f a n a c t t h a t t h e l a w re qu i re s . . . o r t o c o n t r o l a n a r b i t r a r y o r c a p r i c i o u s e x erc i s e o f d i s cre t i o n . " I n t'l G a m e T ec h ., I n c . v . S ec o n d J u d i c i a l D i s t . C o u r t ,
' S ee E i g h t h J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t C o u r t A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d er 20 - 17 , a t *15 - 16 . [2] T h o r D e v e l o p m e n t f il e d a j o i nd er t o A nd er s o n ' s a n s w er t o t h e p e t i t i o n .
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E V ADA 5 ( [0] ) I [947] A Q M [*] , *6 124 N e v . 193 , 197 , 179 P . 3d 556 , 558 ( 2008 ) ( c iti ng , i n t e r a li a , N R S 34 . 160 ) . I n g e n e r a l , w h e n c on s i d e r i ng a p e titi on f o r a w r it o f m a nd a m u s , w e r e v i e w f o r a m a n i f e s t a bu s e o f d i s c r e ti on . N u V e da , LL C v . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t . C ou r t , 137 N e v ., A dv . O p . 54 , 495 P . 3d 500 , 503 ( 2021 . ) . W h e t h e r t o c on s i d e r s u c h a p e titi on i s w it h i n t h e a pp e ll a t e c ou r t ' s d i s c r e ti on . L i bb y v . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t . C ou r t , 130 N e v . 359 , 363 , 325 P . 3d 1276 , 1278 ( 2014 ) . M a nd a m u s m a y on l y i ss u e i n " ca s e s w h e r e t h e r e i s no t a p l a i n , s p ee dy a nd a d e qu a t e r e m e dy i n t h e o r d i n a r y c ou r s e o f l a w . " N R S 34 . 170 . A n a pp ea l i s g e n e r a ll y a n a d e qu a t e l e g a l r e m e dy p r ec l ud i ng w r it r e li e f . I n t ' l G a m e T ec h . , 124 N e v . a t 197 , 179 P . 3d a t 558 .
H e r e , it i s a pp r op r i a t e t o e n t e r t a i n C e r v a n t e s - G u e v a r a ' s p e titi on b eca u s e s h e do e s no t h a v e a p l a i n , s p ee dy , a nd a d e qu a t e r e m e dy t o c h a ll e ng e t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t ' s o r d e r d i s m i ss i ng A nd e r s on a s a d e f e nd a n t i n t h e und e r l y i ng ac ti on . W h il e it i s t r u e t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t d i s m i ss e d a ll t h e c l a i m s i n t h e c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t A nd e r s on , t h e o r d e r g r a n ti ng d i s m i ss a l i s no t a pp ea l a b l e , a b s e n t a n a pp r op r i a t e ce r ti f i ca ti on o f f i n a lit y und e r N RC P 54 ( b ) , b eca u s e t h e r e a r e r e m a i n i ng i ss u e s t o b e r e s o l v e d a g a i n s t T ho r D e v e l op m e n t . S ee L ee v . G N L V C o r p ., 116 N e v . 424 , 426 , 996 P . 2d 416 , 417 ( 2000 ) ( e xp l a i n i ng t h a t " a f i n a l j udg m e n t i s on e t h a t d i s po s e s o f a ll t h e i ss u e s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e ca s e , a nd l ea v e s no t h i ng f o r t h e f u t u r e c on s i d e r a ti on o f t h e [ d i s t r i c t ] c ou r t " ) . B u t N RC P 54 ( b ) ce r ti f i ca ti on i s d i s c r e ti on a r y , B o r g e r v . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t . C ou r t , 120 N e v . 1021 , 1026 n . 23 , 102 P . 3d 600 , 603 n . 23 ( 2004 ) , a nd w h il e it s a v a il a b ilit y g e n e r a ll y p r ec l ud e s w r it r e li e f , s ee , e . g ., D a tt a l a v . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t . C ou r t , N o . 82022 W L 510112 , a t *1 ( N e v . F e b . 18 , 2022 ) ( O r d e r D e ny i ng P e titi on ) , t h e p r ec l u s i on i s n o t a b s o l u t e , B o r g e r , 1 20 N e v . a t 10 26 n . 2 3 , 1 02 P . 3d a t 6 0 3 n . 2 3 . C on s i d e r i ng t h i s w r it p e titi on i s a pp r op r i a t e b eca u s e w h e t h e r t h e
6 *7 E m e r g e n c y D i r ec ti v e i ss u e d by t h e G ov e r no r a pp li e s t o r u l e s p r o m u l g a t e d by t h i s c ou r t i s a n i m po r t a n t i ss u e o f l a w r e qu i r i ng c l a r i f i ca ti on a nd r e s o l v i ng t h e i ss u e w ill p r o m o t e j ud i c i a l ec ono m y . S ee M ona v . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t . C ou r t , 132 N e v . 719 , 724 , 380 P . 3d 836 , 840 ( 2016 ) ( no ti ng t h a t " e v e n i f a n [ o t h e r w i s e ] a d e qu a t e l e g a l r e m e dy e x i s t s , t h i s c ou r t w ill c on s i d e r a w r it p e titi on i f a n i m po r t a n t i ss u e o f l a w n ee d s c l a r i f i ca ti on o r i f r e v i e w w ou l d s e r v e a pub li c po li c y o r j ud i c i a l ec ono m y i n t e r e s t " ) . W h e t h e r t h e G o ve r no r ' s E m e r g e n cy D i r ec ti ve app li e s t o s e r v i ce o f p r o ce ss
I n N e v a d a , t h e j ud i c i a r y h a s t h e c on s tit u ti on a l du t y " R h ) d e c l a r e w h a t t h e l a w i s o r h a s b e e n . " N . L a ke T aho e F i r e P r o t . D i s t . v . W a s ho e C t y . B d . o f C o m n e rs , 129 N e v . 682 , 687 , 310 P . 3d 583 , 587 ( 2013 ) ( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on m a r k s o m itt e d ) . G e n e r a ll y , t h i s c ou r t " r e v i e w [ s ] i ss u e s o f s t a t u t o r y c on s t r u c ti on d e novo . " Z oha r v . Z b i e g i e n , 130 N e v . 733 , 737 , 334 P . 3d 402 , 405 ( 2014 ) . " W h e n i n t e r p r e ti ng a s t a t u t e , w e l ook t o it s p l a i n l a ngu a g e . " S m it h v . Z il ve r b e r g , 137 N e v ., A dv . O p . 7 , 481 P . 3d 1222 , 1230 ( 2021 ) . " If a s t a t u t e ' s l a ngu a g e i s p l a i n a nd un a m b i guou s , w e e n f o r ce t h e s t a t u t e a s w r itt e n , w it hou t r e s o r ti ng t o t h e r u l e s o f c on s t r u c ti on . " I d . W h e n e v e r po ss i b l e , t h i s c ou r t i n t e r p r e t s " a r u l e o r s t a t u t e i n h a r m ony w it h o t h e r r u l e s o r s t a t u t e s . " S l ad e v . C a e s a rs E n t m ' t C o r p ., 132 N e v . 374 , 376 , 373 P . 3d 74 , 75 ( 2016 ) .
A lt hough t h i s c ou r t h a s no t y e t a dd r e ss e d t h e i ss u e , m a ny o t h e r c ou r t s h a v e a pp li e d t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f s t a t u t o r y i n t e r p r e t a ti on t o e x ec u ti v e o r d e r s a nd d i r ec ti v e s , a nd w e a g r ee w it h t h e i r a pp r o ac h . S ee I n r e M u r a ck , 957 N . W . 2d 124 , 128 ( M i nn . C t . A pp . 2021 ) ( ho l d i ng t h a t " it i s a pp r op r i a t e t o a pp l y s t a t u t o r y - i n t e r p r e t a ti on p r i n c i p l e s i n i n t e r p r e ti ng [ e m e r g e n c y e x ec u ti v e o r d e r s ] " ) , s ee a l s o B a s s i d j i v . G o e , 413 F . 3d 92 8 , 93 4 ( 9 t h C i r . 2005 ) ( " A s i s t r u e o f i n t e r p r e t a ti on o f s t a t u t e s , t h e i n t e r p r e t a ti on o f a n E x ec u ti v e O r d e r b e g i n s w i t h it s t e x t " ) ; U n it e d S t a t e s v . A b u M a rz o o k , 412
7 *8 F . S upp . 2d 913 , 922 ( N . D . I ll . 2006 ) ( " T h e C ou r t i n t e r p r e t s E x ec u ti v e O r d e r s i n t h e s a m e m a nn e r t h a t it i n t e r p r e t s s t a t u t e s . " ) ; C it y o f M o r gan H ill v . B a y A r e a A i r Q ua lit y M g m t . D i s t ., 13 C a l . R p t r . 3d 420 , 431 ( C t . A pp . 2004 ) ( " T h e c on s t r u c ti on o f a n e x ec u ti v e o r d e r p r e s e n t s a n i ss u e a k i n t o a n i ss u e o f s t a t u t o r y i n t e r p r e t a ti on . . . . " ) .
H e r e , C e r v a n t e s - G u e v a r a a r gu e s t h a t t h e t o lli ng p r ov i s i on c on t a i n e d i n E m e r g e n c y D i r ec ti v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) a pp li e d t o t h e s e r v i ce p e r i od p r e s c r i b e d und e r N RC P 4 ( e ) , s u c h t h a t t h e r e m a i n i ng 36 d a y s o f t h e o r i g i n a l s e r v i ce p e r i od r ec o mm e n ce d on A ugu s t 1 , w it h t h e f i r s t 90 - d a y e x t e n s i on b e g i nn i ng on S e p t e m b e r 5 a nd no t e xp i r i ng un til D ece m b e r 4 , r e nd e r i ng h e r s ec ond m o ti on ti m e l y f il e d . A s no t e d , t h e E m e r g e n c y D i r ec ti v e t o ll e d " [ a ] ny s p ec i f i c ti m e li m it s e t by s t a t e s t a t u t e o r r e gu l a ti on f o r t h e c o mm e n ce m e n t o f an y l e ga l a c ti on . " E m e r g e n c y D i r ec ti v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) ( A p r il 1 , 2020 ) , § 2 ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d ) . C e r v a n t e s - G u e v a r a a ss e r t s t h a t N RC P 4 i s a r e gu l a ti on t h a t s e t s f o r t h gu i d e li n e s f o r t h e c ondu c t o f t h e c ou r t s a nd a tt o r n e y s du r i ng l e g a l p r o cee d i ng s . H o w e v e r , N e v a d a l a w d e r m e s a " r e gu l a ti on , " i n r e l e v a n t p a r t , a s " [ a ] n a g e n c y r u l e , s t a nd a r d , d i r ec ti v e o r s t a t e m e n t o f g e n e r a l a pp li ca b ilit y w h i c h e ff ec t u a t e s o r i n t e r p r e t s l a w o r po li c y , o r d e s c r i b e s t h e o r g a n i za ti on , p r o ce du r e o r p r ac ti ce r e qu i r e m e n t s o f a ny a g e n c y . " N R S 233 B . 038 ( 1 )( a ) . F u r t h e r , N e v a d a l a w d e f i n e s a n " a g e n c y " a s " a n a g e n c y , bu r ea u , bo a r d , c o mm i ss i on , d e p a r t m e n t , d i v i s i o n , o ff i ce r o r e m p l oy ee o f t h e E xec u ti ve D e pa r t m e n t . " N R S 233 B . 031 ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d ) . C ou r t r u l e s a r e no t i n c l ud e d . M o r e ov e r , t h i s c ou r t r ece n tl y s t a t e d i n a n unpub li s h e d d i s po s iti on t h a t " W il e D ec l a r a ti on o f E m e r g e n c y D i r ec ti v e 009 ( R e v i s e d ) do e s no t a pp l y t o d ea d li n e s e s t a b li s h e d b y t h i s c ou r t ' s r u l e s . " B y r d v . B y r d , N o . 8 1 19 8 , 2 0 20 W L 4 7 46 5 47 ( N e v . A ug . 14 , 2020 ) ( O r d e r D i s m i ss i ng A pp ea l ) ( no ti ng t h a t " t h e ti m e li m it a ti on
S U P R E M E C o u a r oF
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EV ADA 8 f O { I [947] A [4] , [410] . *9 to file a notice of appeal is not established by state statute or regulation, but by court rule"). Therefore, Cervantes-Guevara's attempt to frame the NRCP as "regulatione under Emergency Directive 009 (Revised) fails because, by definition, a regulation refers to any rule or adjudication made by an executive branch entity and does not encompass the rules promulgated by this court.
Cervantes-Guevara also contends that NRCP 4(e) expands the meaning of commencing a legal action because it sets forth a specific timeline for when the legal proceeding begins for the defendant in a civil matter. But NRCP 3 specifically states that "[a] civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court." As used in the rules of civil procedure, a "'complaint includes a petition or other document that initiates a civil action." NRCP 3, Advisory Committee Note-2019 Amendment (emphasis added). Cervantes-Guevara's attempt to expand the meaning of "commencing a civil action" to include service of process upon the defendant fails because service of process is not a part of the commonly known definition of the phrase. Whether the district court manifestly abused its discretion by denying Cervantes-Guevara's second motion to enlarge time for service as untimely under NRCP 4(e)
A dismissal for failure to effect timely service of process is reviewed for an abuse of discretion, Saavedra-Sandoval v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 126 Nev. 592, 595, 245 P.3d 1198, 1200 (2010), and as noted above, writ relief will not issue absent a manifest abuse of that discretion, NuVeda, 137 Nev., Adv. Op. 54, 495 P.3d at 503.
SUPREME COURT ' OF NEVADA
9 (0) I 947A 4464.. *10 We agree with the district court that Cervantes-Guevara's second motion to enlarge time, filed on October 28, 2020, was untimely because the previously granted motion extended Cervantes-Guevara's deadline 90 days to September 3, 2020—approximately 55 days before she filed the second motion.
Further, Cervantes-Guevara did not have good cause under NRCP 4(e)(3) for filing her second motion late because her interpretation of the Emergency Directive is unreasonable. Cervantes-Guevara's assertion that she was "reasonably diligent in her attempts" to serve Anderson is belied by the record. As the record shows, her attempts to personally serve Anderson stopped altogether after March 8, 2020, and she failed to begin the service-by-publication process until October 15, 2020, after being granted leave to do so by the district court on June 5, 2020. Therefore, the district court was within its discretion when it denied Cervantes-Guevara's second motion to enlarge time for service because she did not timely file the motion and she failed to demonstrate good cause for her delay.
CONCLUSION
Emergency Directive 009 (Revised) did not apply to the deadlines established by court rules because court rules are neither statutes nor regulations pertaining to the commencement of a legal action. Because the Emergency Directive did not toll the 120-day service period established by NRCP 4(e), the district court did not manifestly abuse its discretion when
10 *11 it d e n i e d C e r v a n t e s - G u e v a r a ' s s ec ond m o ti on t o e n l a r g e ti m e a nd d i s m i ss e d h e r c o m p l a i n t a s t o A nd e r s on . W e t h e r e f o r e d e ny t h e o r i g i n a l p e titi on f o r a w r it o f m a nd a m u s .
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