Under Rule 4(d), what should a plaintiff do if they want to avoid unnecessary expenses in serving a summons?

When a plaintiff desires to avoid unnecessary expenses in serving a summons, the most appropriate course of action is to request a waiver of service from the defendant. Under Rule 4(d), the plaintiff can send a request directly to the defendant asking them to waive the formal service of process. This request must be accompanied by a copy of the summons and a complaint. If the defendant agrees and waives service, they will not be required to respond to the lawsuit until a specified time period after the waiver is filed, thus saving the plaintiff from the costs associated with formal service of process.

This option is particularly advantageous because it fosters a more cooperative approach between the litigants and can lead to a more efficient resolution of the case without needing to involve additional parties or costly processes. Other methods, such as filing a motion with the court or contacting local law enforcement, do not facilitate the waiver process and may instead lead to further expenses and delays in the litigation. Waiting for the defendant to respond without initiating a request for waiver is not proactive and does not effectively address the goal of minimizing serving costs.