83-21-29 - Suits against nonlicensed insurers.
§ 83-21-29. Suits against nonlicensed insurers.
A nonlicensed insurer may be sued upon any cause of action arising in this state under any contract issued by it as hereinabove authorized, in a court of competent jurisdiction in any county in which the plaintiff may reside, or in which the cause of action arose. Any such policy or contract shall contain a provision authorizing service of citation or other legal process upon a person or firm whose name and address shall be set out therein, which said person, or at least one (1) member of a firm, shall be residents of Mississippi. In lieu thereof any such policy or contract shall contain a provision authorizing service of citation or other legal process upon the Commissioner of Insurance, designating the person to whom said Commissioner of Insurance shall mail citation or other legal process. In the event service of legal process against a nonlicensed insurer is made by service upon the Commissioner of Insurance, he shall forthwith mail citation or other document or process required to the person designated by the nonlicensed insurer in the policy for the purpose by registered mail or certified mail with return receipt requested. In the event of service of citation or other legal process upon the Commissioner of Insurance, the nonlicensed insurer shall have thirty (30) days from date of service upon said Commissioner of Insurance within which to plead, answer, or otherwise defend the action. Upon service of process upon the Insurance Commissioner in accordance with this law; or upon the person or firm designated in the policy or contract in accordance with this law, or as provided for by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, the court shall be deemed to have jurisdiction in personam of the nonlicensed insurer. A nonlicensed insurer issuing such insurance policy or contract shall be deemed thereby to have authorized service of process upon it in the manner and effect as provided in Sections 83-21-17 through 83-21-31, and as provided in the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.
Sources: Codes, 1942, § 5705-04; Laws, 1954, ch. 307, § 4; Laws, 1958, ch. 448, § 3; Laws, 1991, ch. 573, § 121, eff from and after July 1, 1991.