HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON PORT AUTHORITY NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

How to Serve Legal Papers on Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Service of process for civil litigation against The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey routes to the Port Authority Law Department — not to the New York City Comptroller, not to the NYC Law Department (Office of the Corporation Counsel), and not to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General or the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. The Port Authority is a bistate compact authority governed by NY Unconsolidated Laws §§ 7101–7112 and NJ Stat. §§ 32:1-1 et seq. — neither General Municipal Law § 50-e nor the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, N.J.S.A. § 59:1-1 et seq., applies. For NY-jurisdiction matters, serve the Port Authority Law Department at 4 World Trade Center, 150 Greenwich Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10007. For NJ-jurisdiction matters, serve at 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Registered mail to the principal office at 4 World Trade Center is a statutory alternative under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163.

Undisputed Legal handles service of process on the Port Authority and its wholly-owned entities — Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH), the Newark Legal and Communications Center Urban Renewal Corporation, and the New York and New Jersey Railroad Corporation — all served at the same Port Authority Law Department addresses. Service for separate entities, including the NYC Department of Transportation, New York City Transit Authority, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, MTA, and NJ Transit, routes through different statutory frameworks and is not covered here.

Call (800) 774-6922 before your 60-day Notice of Claim window under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163 closes.

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Why Serving the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Is Difficult

DON’T FILE A NOTICE OF CLAIM UNDER GML § 50-E OR THE NJ TORT CLAIMS ACT — THE BISTATE COMPACT GOVERNS

The Port Authority is not a NYC Charter agency, not a New York State public benefit corporation, and not a New Jersey public entity under the NJ Tort Claims Act — it is a bistate compact authority created in 1921 by parallel legislative acts, ratified by Congress, governed by NY Unconsolidated Laws §§ 7101–7112 and NJ Stat. §§ 32:1-157 et seq. Service routes to the Port Authority Law Department at 4 World Trade Center, 150 Greenwich Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10007 (NY matters) or 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302 (NJ matters); registered mail to the principal office is authorized in lieu of personal service under § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163. The NYC Comptroller — Bureau of Law and Adjustment, 1 Centre Street — accepts GML § 50-e Notices of Claim for City-as-defendant matters; it does not accept Port Authority Notices of Claim. The NJ State Treasurer and NJ Attorney General accept service for the State of New Jersey under the NJ Tort Claims Act; they do not accept Port Authority claims. A Notice of Claim filed with the NYC Comptroller, or with the NJ State Treasurer or NJ Attorney General, for Port Authority litigation is refused. The 60-day Notice of Claim window under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163 runs against the unserved bistate authority while counsel’s papers sit at the wrong address.

THE 60-DAY NOC + 1-YEAR SOL IS JURISDICTIONAL — NOT A PROCEDURAL PREREQUISITE

NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163 require that a Notice of Claim be served on the Port Authority at least sixty days before suit is commenced, and that suit be commenced within one year of accrual. The 60-day rule means notice must be delivered at least 60 days before commencement — not within 60 days of injury (per Espinal v. Port Authority of NY & NJ, NY App Div 2nd Dept, 2023). Counsel calculating at the 1-year wall must serve within approximately 305 days of accrual — the 305-day NOC window Port Authority practitioners must track. The discretionary 3-year extension under NJ Stat. § 32:1-164 applies only to infant or incapacitated claimants. A complaint filed without timely 60-day Notice of Claim, or commenced more than one year after accrual, is dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction — not for procedural error — and the dismissal cannot be cured by amendment.

PATH TRAIN, BRIDGE, TUNNEL, AND AIRPORT CLAIMS ALL ROUTE TO THE PORT AUTHORITY — NOT TO THE MTA, NOT TO THE STATE, NOT TO THE INDIVIDUAL FACILITY

The Port Authority operates the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing — the six interstate vehicular crossings. It operates John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. It operates the Manhattan Bus Terminal at 8th Avenue and 42nd Street and owns the World Trade Center site. Through Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH), it operates rail service between Manhattan, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Newark. Personal-injury claims from any of these operations route to the Port Authority Law Department under §§ 7106 and 7107 — not to the MTA, not to the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, not to either State, and not to any individual airport, terminal, or hub office. A pleading captioning the MTA, either State, or an individual facility — when the underlying conduct is the Port Authority’s — does not toll the 60-day Notice of Claim window or the 1-year SOL against the Port Authority.

THE STATUTORY CONSENT TO SUIT IS LIMITED — SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY APPLIES TO CLAIMS OUTSIDE THE COMPACT’S EXPRESS WAIVER

NY Unconsolidated Law § 7101 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-157 waive sovereign immunity only for actions consistent with the compact’s express terms — covering personal-injury, property-damage, wrongful-death, and contract claims. The waiver does not extend to NJ Law Against Discrimination (LAD), Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), or Civil Rights Act (CRA) employment claims unless a parallel NY statute applies — Santiago v. NY NJ Port Authority, NJ App Div 2012, governs consent-to-suit scope for NJ-only employment claims. The NJ Tort Claims Act, N.J.S.A. § 59:1-1 et seq., is inapplicable to the Port Authority. Claims under the workmen’s-compensation laws of either state are carved out under § 7107 and § 32:1-163. A complaint asserting a cause of action outside the express statutory consent — even if timely served — is dismissed on sovereign-immunity grounds and the limitations clock cannot be re-started by re-pleading under a different theory.

PATH AND OTHER WHOLLY-OWNED ENTITIES ARE SERVED AT THE SAME ADDRESSES — DON’T CONFUSE WITH SEPARATE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES

Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary; service for PATH matters routes to the Port Authority Law Department at 4 World Trade Center or 2 Montgomery Street — not to the MTA, not to NJ Transit. Federal courts confirmed PATH’s status as an arm of the bistate authority under Hess v. Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp., 513 U.S. 30 (1994). The Newark Legal and Communications Center Urban Renewal Corporation and the New York and New Jersey Railroad Corporation are wholly-owned Port Authority entities served at the same Law Department addresses. The NYC Department of Transportation, NYC Transit Authority, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (MTA Bridges & Tunnels), NJ Transit, and individual commercial airlines are distinct entities — service directed to them for Port Authority or PATH conduct is ineffective. A pleading captioning a separate authority or carrier — when the underlying conduct is the Port Authority’s or PATH’s — does not constitute service on the Port Authority and does not toll the 60-day Notice of Claim window or the 1-year SOL.

Port Authority matters carry a 60-day Notice of Claim window under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163 and a 1-year statute of limitations — both jurisdictional, not subject to ordinary tolling, and not curable by amendment. The NJ Stat. § 32:1-164 discretionary 3-year extension applies only to infant or incapacitated claimants.

Our Process for Serving the Port Authority

1. Intake. Counsel transmits the prepared papers with instructions identifying the named defendant, the delivery address (NY at 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor, or NJ at 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City), and the service method (personal service or registered mail to the principal office). Whether the target is the Port Authority itself, a wholly-owned entity, or an individual employee is counsel’s determination. We do not prepare Notices of Claim, complaints, summonses, or subpoenas. We do not classify which entity is the correct named defendant. We do not evaluate whether the 60-day Notice of Claim window under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 has been satisfied. We do not determine whether a claim falls within the Port Authority’s statutory consent to suit or is barred by sovereign immunity. We do not classify whether a claim is within the workmen’s-compensation carve-out under § 7107. We do not assess whether a NJ Law Against Discrimination, Conscientious Employee Protection Act, or Civil Rights Act claim is within the consent-to-suit. We do not determine whether to file in NY Supreme Court, NJ Superior Court, federal SDNY, or federal D.N.J. We do not select between personal service at 4 World Trade Center, personal service at 2 Montgomery Street, or registered mail to the principal office. We do not verify whether the cause of action accrued for purposes of the 1-year SOL. We do not advise on the discretionary 3-year extension for infants or incapacitated claimants under NJ Stat. § 32:1-164. We do not track the 60-day NOC window, the 1-year SOL, or any other deadline as a compliance service. We do not review pleadings for sufficiency, completeness, or jurisdictional adequacy. We do not interpret NY Unconsolidated Laws §§ 7101–7112, NJ Stat. §§ 32:1-157 et seq., the bistate compact, CPLR, FRCP, or 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for clients.
2. Verification of destination. We confirm the destination office — 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor (NY matters) or 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City (NJ matters) — its intake hours, and any appointment requirements. For registered-mail orders, we confirm the principal-office mailing address. We do not determine which office is correct — counsel directs the destination.
3. Dispatch. A licensed process server experienced with Port Authority’s bistate compact service framework is dispatched to the Law Department address counsel directs. For registered-mail service, we transmit per certified-mail protocols and document the certificate of mailing.
4. Delivery. The server delivers per counsel’s instructions — personal service at the Law Department at 4 World Trade Center or 2 Montgomery Street, or registered-mail per § 7107 / § 32:1-163. We do not select between delivery tracks — counsel selects; we execute.
5. GPS-verified affidavit. The server records gps-verified coordinates and timestamp at delivery, anchoring the service date and time to a verifiable location record.
6. Notarized return. The affidavit of service is notarized and returned to counsel within standard turnaround, complete with the gps-verified timestamp and delivery address.
7. Filing assistance. At counsel’s request, Undisputed Legal files the affidavit with the court clerk. We do not advise on forum selection — counsel selects the venue; we deliver per counsel’s direction.

Where to Serve the Port Authority

The table identifies correct and incorrect service destinations for Port Authority matters. Misdirected service does not toll the 60-day Notice of Claim window or the 1-year SOL — the Port Authority’s statutory windows run unabated against papers sitting at the wrong address.

Process servers experienced with the Port Authority’s bistate framework deliver to 4 World Trade Center (NY matters) or 2 Montgomery Street (NJ matters) — never to a DOES NOT ACCEPT location.

Compliance Requirements for Serving the Port Authority

NY UNCONSOLIDATED LAW § 7106 — SERVICE OF PROCESS ON THE PORT AUTHORITY

Courts strictly enforce the service-of-process requirements under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7106. Section 7106 authorizes service on the Port Authority by delivering process to the Law Department at 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor. For NJ-jurisdiction matters, personal service runs to the Law Department at 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City, under NJ Stat. § 32:1-163. Registered mail to the principal office at 4 World Trade Center is the statutory alternative authorized by § 7107. For federal claims under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4(j)(2), state-law service rules under § 7106 control — FRCP 4(j)(2) directs service in the manner prescribed by state law for the state-created governmental organization. For individual-capacity claims against Port Authority employees under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4(e), service runs to the named employee’s residence or place of employment — not to 4 World Trade Center or 2 Montgomery Street. Bistate compact service-of-process matters resolve at the Port Authority Law Department — not through NYC Charter procedures and not through NJ Tort Claims Act procedures.

NY UNCONSOLIDATED LAW § 7107 / NJ STAT. § 32:1-163 — THE 60-DAY NOTICE OF CLAIM AND 1-YEAR SOL

Courts strictly enforce the 60-day Notice of Claim and 1-year statute of limitations under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163. The Notice of Claim must be served on the Port Authority at least 60 days before suit is commenced — at 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor (NY matters), at 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City (NJ matters), or by registered mail to the principal office. The 1-year SOL runs from accrual. Per Espinal v. Port Authority of NY & NJ (NY App Div 2nd Dept, 2023), the 60-day rule means the Notice of Claim must be served at least 60 days before commencement — not within 60 days of injury. Counsel calculating at the 1-year wall must serve within approximately 305 days of accrual. The process server’s gps-verified affidavit anchors the elapsed-period calculation to a verifiable delivery date and time.

SOVEREIGN-IMMUNITY SCOPE — THE STATUTORY CONSENT TO SUIT

Courts strictly enforce the scope of the statutory consent to suit under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7101 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-157. The consent covers personal-injury, property-damage, wrongful-death, and contract claims arising from Port Authority operations within the compact’s terms. It does not extend to NJ Law Against Discrimination, Conscientious Employee Protection Act, or Civil Rights Act employment claims unless a parallel NY statute exists — Santiago v. NY NJ Port Authority (NJ App Div 2012) is the governing authority on consent scope for NJ-only employment claims. The NJ Tort Claims Act is inapplicable to the Port Authority. Counsel determines whether the cause of action is within the consent before filing — this page describes service logistics and does not classify whether any particular claim is within the consent-to-suit.

WORKMEN’S-COMPENSATION CARVE-OUT AND DISCRETIONARY EXTENSIONS

Courts strictly enforce the workmen’s-compensation carve-out under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163. Workers’ compensation claims against the Port Authority travel the applicable state compensation framework — excluded from the notice-of-claim and consent-to-suit provisions of the bistate compact. NY Unconsolidated Law § 7108 addresses related entities and alternate provisions. For infant or incapacitated claimants, NJ Stat. § 32:1-164 provides a discretionary 3-year extension of the notice-of-claim window — not available as of right, requiring a showing of incapacity, and not automatically suspending the 1-year SOL’s jurisdictional bar. We do not classify whether a claim is within the workmen’s-compensation carve-out.

This page describes service-of-process logistics for Port Authority matters. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult licensed counsel regarding bistate compact statutory interpretation, claim viability, deadline calculation, the consent-to-suit scope, sovereign-immunity limits, and procedural strategy in either NY or NJ forum.

How Do I Serve Legal Papers on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey?

Personal-injury and tort claims naming the Port Authority as defendant require a Notice of Claim under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 served at least 60 days before suit is commenced — at 4 World Trade Center, 150 Greenwich Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10007 (NY-forum matters) or at 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302 (NJ-forum matters). Registered mail to the principal office at 4 World Trade Center is a statutory alternative. Suit must be commenced within 1 year of accrual under § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163. Port Authority service-of-process matters resolve at the Port Authority Law Department — not at the NYC Comptroller, not at Corporation Counsel, and not at the NJ Attorney General or NJ Treasury.

PATH train claims and claims against other wholly-owned Port Authority entities route to the same Law Department addresses — 4 World Trade Center (NY) and 2 Montgomery Street, Jersey City (NJ). Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Port Authority. Federal courts confirmed PATH’s status as an arm of the bistate authority under Hess v. Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp., 513 U.S. 30 (1994). Service directed to the MTA or NJ Transit for PATH-related claims does not toll the 60-day Notice of Claim window or the 1-year SOL against the Port Authority.

Bridge, tunnel, airport, and bus terminal accident claims naming the Port Authority route to the Law Department — not to the individual facility. The George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and the Manhattan Bus Terminal at 8th Avenue and 42nd Street are all Port Authority-operated facilities. Personal-injury claims arising at any of these locations route under NY Unconsolidated Laws §§ 7106 and 7107. Service on an individual airport, bridge, tunnel, or bus terminal hub office is not service on the Port Authority and does not toll any statutory window.

Federal claims against the Port Authority as an entity are served under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4(j)(2), which directs service in the manner prescribed by state law. For the Port Authority, that means delivery to the Law Department at 4 World Trade Center (NY matters) or 2 Montgomery Street (NJ matters), consistent with NY Unconsolidated Law § 7106. Civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 naming the Port Authority as an entity use the same service framework.

Individual-capacity claims against named Port Authority employees under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4(e) require personal service on the individual — at their residence or place of employment, not at 4 World Trade Center or 2 Montgomery Street. Undisputed Legal provides skip-trace services to locate current addresses for individual Port Authority employees and executes personal service under FRCP 4(e).

NY-vs-NJ jurisdiction selection is a strategic decision counsel makes based on the cause of action, the accident location, plaintiff’s residence, and forum considerations. Both NY Supreme Court and NJ Superior Court provide access to the Port Authority under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7101 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-157. Undisputed Legal delivers to whichever jurisdiction’s service address counsel directs — 4 World Trade Center for NY matters, 2 Montgomery Street in Jersey City for NJ matters. Call (212) 203-8001 or Order Service Now for Port Authority service-of-process across both NY and NJ tracks.

Pricing — Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Service

All service levels include gps-verified affidavit of service. Registered-mail service under § 7107 / § 32:1-163 is billed separately. Cross-state orders requiring both NY and NJ deliveries are billed per delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Serving the Port Authority

What Is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey?

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bistate compact authority created in 1921, ratified by Congress. It operates six interstate vehicular crossings, three commercial airports, PATH rail service, the Manhattan Bus Terminal at 8th Avenue and 42nd Street, and the World Trade Center site. Governing frameworks: NY Unconsolidated Laws §§ 7101–7112 and NJ Stat. §§ 32:1-1 et seq. — not GML § 50-e and not the NJ Tort Claims Act.

Where Is the Port Authority Law Department Located?

The Port Authority Law Department accepts service at two addresses. NY matters: 4 World Trade Center, 150 Greenwich Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10007. NJ matters: 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Both accept personal service of Notices of Claim, summonses and complaints, and subpoenas. Registered mail to the principal office at 4 World Trade Center is a statutory alternative under § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163.

Is the Port Authority the Same as the MTA, NJ Transit, or the NYC DOT?

No. The Port Authority is a bistate compact authority — distinct from the MTA (a New York State public benefit corporation under the Public Authorities Law), NJ Transit (a separate New Jersey entity subject to the NJ Tort Claims Act), and the NYC Department of Transportation (a NYC Charter agency served through Corporation Counsel). PATH train injury claims route to the Port Authority Law Department, not to the MTA or NJ Transit.

How Do I File a Notice of Claim Against the Port Authority?

Serve the Notice of Claim on the Port Authority Law Department — at 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor (NY matters) or 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City (NJ matters) — or by registered mail to the principal office. Under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163, service must occur at least 60 days before suit and suit must be commenced within 1 year of accrual. The NYC Comptroller does not accept Port Authority Notices of Claim.

How Do I Serve a Federal Claim Against the Port Authority?

Federal claims against the Port Authority as an entity are served under FRCP 4(j)(2) — state-law service controls, meaning delivery to the Law Department at 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor (NY) or 2 Montgomery Street, Jersey City (NJ) under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7106. Civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 use the same framework. Individual-capacity claims against Port Authority employees use FRCP 4(e) — service routes to the individual, not to 4 World Trade Center.

How Do I Serve a PATH Train Injury Claim?

PATH train injury claims route to the Port Authority Law Department — 4 World Trade Center, 23rd Floor (NY) or 2 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Jersey City (NJ) — under the same bistate compact service framework. Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary; service does not route to the MTA or NJ Transit. Federal courts confirmed PATH’s status under Hess v. Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp., 513 U.S. 30 (1994). The 60-day Notice of Claim and 1-year SOL under § 7107 apply.

What Happens If I File a Notice of Claim with the NYC Comptroller for a Port Authority Matter?

A Notice of Claim filed with the NYC Comptroller — Bureau of Law and Adjustment, 1 Centre Street — for Port Authority litigation is refused. The Comptroller accepts City-of-New-York-as-defendant notices under GML § 50-e only; it does not accept Port Authority claims. While papers sit at the wrong address, the 60-day Notice of Claim window and 1-year SOL under § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163 run against the unserved Port Authority. Service at the Comptroller does not toll any statutory window.

Does the 1-Year Statute of Limitations on Port Authority Claims Allow Late Filing?

No. The 1-year SOL under NY Unconsolidated Law § 7107 and NJ Stat. § 32:1-163 is jurisdictional — courts dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, not procedural error, and the dismissal cannot be cured by amendment. The NJ Stat. § 32:1-164 discretionary 3-year extension applies only to infant or incapacitated claimants, not available as of right. Timely 60-day Notice of Claim and commencement within 1 year are the only paths to a live Port Authority case.