Last Updated:
Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; ©
A judgment can be set aside for voidness where the court lacked jurisdiction or where the movant was denied due process. United Student Aid Funds, Inc. v. Espinosa, 559 U.S. 260, 271, 130 S.Ct. 1367, 1377, 176 L.Ed.2d 158 (2010). This includes lack of personal jurisdiction and defective due process for failure to effect proper service. Worldwide Web, 328 F.3d at 1299. Herrera is correct to point out that a motion to set aside a judgment for voidness pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(4) is not subject to a typical laches analysis.
Although we review a district court's Rule 60(b)(4) motion for abuse of discretion, insufficient service of process under Rule 60(b)(4) implicates personal jurisdiction and due process concerns. Generally, where service of process is insufficient, the court has no power to render judgment and the judgment is void. See Varnes v. Local 91, Glass Bottle Blowers Ass'n, 674 F.2d 1365, 1368 (11th Cir. 1982) (finding a judgment void under Rule 60(b)(4) where the defendant was not properly served); see also Mullane v. Cent. Hanover Bank Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314, 70 S.Ct. 652, 657, 94 L.Ed. 865 (1950) ("An elementary and fundamental requirement of due process in any proceeding ... accorded finality is notice reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the... action and [to] afford them an opportunity to present their objections." (citations omitted)).
When a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, its judgment is void and must be reversed on appeal.
Shop | TBD Marketplace™ | |
Buy | TBD Marketplace™ | |
Sell | TBD Marketplace™ |