CITIMORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff,
v.
REINALDO JOSE PANIAGUA-LATIMER, CYNTHIA MARIE MUÑOZ-ZAYAS, CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP PANIAGUA-MUÑOZ Defendant(s).

Civil No. 08-1591 (SEC).

United States District Court, D. Puerto Rico.

December 27, 2010.

OPINION and ORDER

SALVADOR E. CASELLAS, Senior District Judge.

Pending before this Court is Defendants Reinaldo Paniagua Latimer, Cynthia Marie Muñoz Zayas, and their conjugal partnership’s (“Defendants”) motion to vacate default judgment. Docket #18. Plaintiff Citimortgage, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) opposed (Docket #20), and Defendants replied (Docket #21 & 24). After reviewing the filings and the applicable law, Defendants’ motion to vacate default judgment is GRANTED.

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We further note that, as Defendants correctly point out, although Plaintiff submitted an affidavit by the process server, they did not file a verified complaint or accompanied the motion for service by publication with an affidavit setting forth factual allegations that justifies that they are entitled to some relief. In light of the applicable case law, this defect deprives this Court of jurisdiction over Defendants, and consequently renders the default judgment void. As a result, this Court’s May 14, 2009 default judgment is VACATED, and the present case is DISMISSED without prejudice for lack of personal jurisdiction.

Conclusion

For the above stated reasons, Defendants’ motion to vacate default judgment is GRANTED, the May 14, 2009 default judgment is VACATED, and the instant case is DISMISSED without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 27 day th of December, 2010.

s/Salvador E. Casellas
Salvador E. Casellas
U.S. Senior District Judge

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