George Luis Toribio v. City of West Palm Beach, Florida

George Luis Toribio appeals a trial court order that denied his motion to vacate a default final judgment against him in a forfeiture action. We reverse and remand because the City of West Palm Beach did not prove that substitute service of process was properly made on him.

[1] A judgment entered based on invalid service of process is void. Weiss v. Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enter., 935 So.2d 69, 71 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006). Section 48.031(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2013), requires that the person be served or that the process server leave “copies at [the person’s] usual place of abode with any…