In computing the three-year time within which summons and complaint must be served, CCP 583.240(b) excludes any time in which the prosecution of the action or proceedings in the action was stayed and the stay affected service. This case holds that if litigation between plaintiff and defendant 1 is stayed (as it was here while those parties engaged in a prelitigation alternative dispute resolution procedure mandated by a contract), service of the suit on defendant 2 may be stayed within the meaning of CCP 583.240(b) if the stay between plaintiff and defendant 1 prevents plaintiff from conducting discovery reasonably needed to identify defendant 2.