What must XYZ Corporation do to challenge a default judgment that they believe was rendered without proper service?

To challenge a default judgment that was rendered without proper service, XYZ Corporation must file a petition for nullity of judgment for vices of form. This is because a default judgment can be set aside if it was rendered due to improper service of process, which constitutes a defect in the form of the judgment.

In Louisiana law, a judgment can be annulled for specific vices, including lack of proper notice or service. By submitting a petition for nullity, the corporation can assert that they were never properly served and therefore the court did not have jurisdiction over them when it issued the default judgment. This is a recognized remedy under the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.

Choosing to file a declinatory exception for insufficiency of service of process is an option that needs to be exercised before a judgment is rendered, not after. Waiting for the trial court to correct its judgment is also not viable because the court is unlikely to take action on its own regarding service issues once a default judgment has been entered. Simply requesting an immediate appeal is also not the correct approach, as the proper procedural step following a default judgment based on improper service is to seek annulment rather than appeal.