(a) The transaction of insurance by an unauthorized person or nonadmitted insurer is equivalent to and constitutes an irrevocable appointment by that person or insurer, binding upon the person or insurer, the executor, administrator, or personal representative of the person or insurer, or its successor in interest if a corporation, of the lieutenant governor and the successors in office of the lieutenant governor to be the lawful attorney of that person or insurer upon whom may be served all legal process in any action, suit, or proceeding in any court by the director or by the state and upon whom may be served any notice, order, pleading, or process in any proceeding before the director and that arises out of the transaction of insurance in this state or relative to a subject resident, located, or to be performed in this state by that person or insurer. The transaction of insurance by an unauthorized person or nonadmitted insurer is acceptance by that person or insurer that legal process in the court action, suit, or proceeding and any notice, order, pleading, or process in an administrative proceeding before the director so served has the same legal force and validity as personal service of process in this state upon the person or insurer, or upon the executor, administrator, or personal representative of that person or insurer, or its successor in interest if a corporation.
(b) The service of process in the action, suit, or proceeding in any court or the notice, order, pleading, or process in the administrative proceeding authorized by (a) of this section shall be made by leaving two copies in the hands or office of the lieutenant governor. A certificate by the lieutenant governor showing the service, which shall be attached to the original or third copy of the process presented to the lieutenant governor for that purpose, is sufficient evidence of service. Service upon the lieutenant governor as attorney shall be service upon the principal.
(c) The lieutenant governor shall immediately mail one copy of the court process or notice, order, pleading, or process in proceedings before the director to the defendant in the court proceeding or to whom the notice, order, pleading, or process in the administrative proceeding is addressed or directed at the last known principal place of business of the defendant and shall keep a record of all process so served that shall show the day and hour of service. The service is sufficient, provided notice of the service and a copy of the court process or the notice, order, pleading, or process in the administrative proceeding are sent within 10 days after service by registered mail by the plaintiff or the attorney of the plaintiff in the court proceeding or by the director in the administrative proceeding to the defendant in the court proceeding or by whom the notice, order, pleading, or process in the administrative proceeding is addressed or directed at its last known principal place of business of the defendant in the court or administrative proceeding, and the defendant's receipt, or receipt issued by the post office with which the letter is registered, showing the name of the sender of the letter and the name and address of the person or insurer to whom the letter is addressed, and the affidavit of the plaintiff or the attorney of the plaintiff in a court proceeding or of the director in an administrative proceeding, showing compliance are filed with the clerk of the court in which the action, suit, or proceeding is pending or with the director in administrative proceedings, on or before the date the defendant in the court or administrative proceeding is required to appear or respond, or within additional time that the court or director may allow.
(d) A plaintiff or complainant may not obtain a judgment or determination by default in a court or administrative proceeding in which court process or notice, order, pleading, or process in proceedings before the director is served under this section until there is compliance with the Rules of Civil Procedure regarding default judgments.
(e) This section does not limit or abridge the right to serve a process, notice, order, pleading, or demand upon a person or insurer in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.
(f) The attorney general, upon request of the director, is authorized to proceed in the courts of this or another state or in a federal court or agency to enforce an order or decision in a court proceeding or in an administrative proceeding before the director.
Section: Previous 21.33.010 21.33.011 21.33.015 21.33.020 21.33.021 21.33.025 21.33.030 21.33.031 21.33.035 21.33.037 21.33.040 21.33.041 21.33.042 21.33.045 21.33.050 NextLast modified: November 15, 2016