Ellen DeGeneres Challenges 2023 Car Accident Lawsuit, Claiming She Was Never Properly Served

Ellen DeGeneres is challenging a lawsuit tied to a 2023 car accident, insisting she was never properly served with legal documents. The 68-year-old former daytime host faces allegations of negligence after allegedly running a stop sign in Santa Barbara County, causing personal and property damage.

Court documents shared by Globe Magazine show DeGeneres' lawyers contesting the plaintiff's claim that three attempts were made to serve her, arguing the papers were handed to a security guard at her business management firm rather than DeGeneres herself.

Her team says it was unreasonable to expect her to be in the office on the specific days cited.

Disputing Service of Documents: Is It Possible?

DeGeneres' legal team maintains that the delivery attempts should be dismissed as invalid.

The court filings dated 21 January 2026 said the documents were reportedly handed to a security guard at NKSFB, LLC, her business management firm. The lawyers argue that the office was not DeGeneres' 'dwelling house, usual place of abode, or usual place of business', making the service improper under legal standards.

Harley J. Neuman, a board member of the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, explained that there was no direct interaction with the process server, nor any acknowledgement of receipt. He stated that, to his knowledge, no copy of the summons and complaint was mailed to the office. This supports the legal team's position that the service attempts were technically flawed.

In legal terms, 'service of process' is how a defendant is officially notified that a lawsuit has been filed against them. For the court to have jurisdiction, the defendant must be properly served — usually in person at their home, usual place of business, or through accepted legal channels.

If the court finds that the service was improper or invalid, the plaintiff may need to serve the documents again in accordance with proper legal procedures.

Ellen DeGeneres' UK Residency

Part of DeGeneres' defence rests on her current residence in the U.K. with wife Portia de Rossi. Her lawyers argue that because she lives abroad, it was unrealistic to expect her to be at the Santa Barbara office on the 'two random days in January' when the service was attempted.

This detail strengthens the claim that proper legal protocol for serving a U.S.-based defendant residing overseas was not followed.

Legal experts note that serving documents correctly is critical in civil cases. Failure to do so can delay proceedings or result in the dismissal of claims until the defendant is properly notified. In this case, the defence asserts that the alleged service does not meet these standards.

Details of the Car Accident

The plaintiff's complaint says the incident took place on 16 October 2023 in Santa Barbara County, California, at an intersection controlled by stop signs in all directions. According to court documents, the woman claims she had stopped at her stop sign and checked for traffic before entering the junction, but DeGeneres's vehicle allegedly ignored a stop sign and 'T‑boned' her car.

The driver who filed the lawsuit asserts she suffered 'multiple serious personal injuries and damages' as a result of the collision, including medical expenses, loss of wages, emotional distress, and a reduced quality of life.

The complaint describes DeGeneres's conduct as falling 'below the standard of care of a reasonable person,' meaning the plaintiff believes DeGeneres failed to exercise appropriate caution while driving.

A court date is scheduled for 30 April 2026, and the lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages for the injuries and losses the woman says resulted from the crash

DeGeneres has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. However, her legal team's filings suggest a focus on procedural errors rather than contesting the incident itself at this stage.