ORDER

CAROL MIRANDO, Magistrate Judge.

This matter comes before the Court upon review of Plaintiff's Motion for Clerk's Default (Doc. 12), filed on June 16, 2016. Plaintiff moves, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a), for entry of Clerk's default against Defendant Classic Cleaners of Pelican Landing, Inc. ("Classic Cleaners"). For the reasons that follow, the motion is due to be granted.

Pursuant to Rule 55(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, "[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise, the clerk must enter the party's default." Similarly, Middle District of Florida Local Rule 1.07(b) provides:

M.D. Fla. R. 1.07(b). Prior to directing the Clerk to enter a default, the Court must first determine whether Plaintiff properly effected service of process. United States v. Donald, No. 3:09-cv-147-J-32HTS, 2009 WL 1810357, at *1 (M.D. Fla. June 24, 2009).

Service on a corporation can be made by any manner accepted in the state or "by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process[.]" Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(h)(1)(A), (e)(1). Section 48.081, Florida Statutes, provides a hierarchy for service of process upon a corporation. A private corporation may be served by serving process on the president, vice president, or other head of the corporation, and in the absence of any such persons, on other corporate employees, including any officer or director. Fla. Stat. § 48.081(1)(a)-(d). As an alternative, process may be served on a registered agent of the corporation, or an employee of the registered agent. Id. § 48.081(3)(a). If service cannot be made on the registered agent, service of process is permitted on any employee at the corporation's principal place of business or any employee of the registered agent. Id.

Here, the Return of Service (Doc. 11) states that on May 23, 2016, a process server from Tropical Surveillance and Investigations delivered a true copy of the Summons in a Civil Action, Standing Order, Amended Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial, Related Case Order and Track Two Notice, Notice of Pendency of Other Actions, and Notice of Filing Notice to Consent to Join upon William Gutierrez, Jr.,1 registered agent for Classic Cleaners at 24600 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Doc. 11. Affidavits by process servers constitute a prima facie showing that defendants have been served. Udoinyion v. The Guardian Security, F. App'x. 731, 735 (11th Cir. 2011) (unsworn and unsigned letters insufficient to call into question prima facie evidence of service consisting of process server's sworn return); Burger King Corp. v. Eupierre, Case No. 12-20197-CIV, 2012 WL 2192438, *2 (S.D. Fla. June 14, 2012). Service of process therefore was properly effected under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h)(1)(A), (e)(1); Fla. Stat. § 48.081(3)(a).

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a)(1)(A), a defendant must serve an answer within 21 days after being served with the summons and complaint. Defendant Classic Cleaners has failed to do so within the time period; therefore, entry of Clerk's Default pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) and Middle District of Florida Local Rule 1.07(b) is appropriate.

ACCORDINGLY, it is hereby

ORDERED:

Motion for Clerk's Default (Doc. 12) is GRANTED. The Clerk is directed to enter a Clerk's Default against Defendant Classic Cleaners of Pelican Landing, Inc.

DONE and ORDERED.