Hubicki v. Festina

The trial court in this case authorized substituted service by first class mail and by certified mail, return receipt requested, on Frank Hubicki at a post office box associated with a house he owns in Mexico. Hubicki did not answer, and the court rendered a default judgment against him for actual and punitive damages. We hold that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that the method of service the trial court authorized was reasonably effective to give Hubicki notice of the suit, and reverse the court of appeals’ judgment.

In August 2003, Festina, a Liechtenstein Foundation, sued Hubicki for…