(1) An unauthorized insurer may be sued upon any cause of action arising in this state under any surplus lines insurance contract issued by it or any certificate, cover note, or other confirmation of such insurance issued by the surplus lines agent, pursuant to the same procedure as is provided in s. 624.423 as to authorized insurers.
(2) The unauthorized insurer accepting the risk or issuing the policy shall be deemed thereby to have authorized service of process against it in the manner and to the effect as provided in this section, and to have appointed the Chief Financial Officer as its agent for service of process issuing upon any cause of action arising in this state under any such policy, contract, or insurance.
(3) Each unauthorized insurer requesting eligibility pursuant to s. 626.918 shall file with the department its appointment of the Chief Financial Officer, on a form as furnished by the department, as its agent to receive service of all legal process issued against it in any civil action or proceeding in this state, and agreeing that process so served shall be valid and binding upon the insurer. The appointment shall be irrevocable, shall bind the insurer and any successor in interest as to the assets or liabilities of the insurer, and shall remain in effect as long as there is outstanding in this state any obligation or liability of the insurer resulting from its insurance transactions therein.
(4) At the time of such appointment of the Chief Financial Officer as its process agent, the insurer shall file with the department designation of the name and e-mail address of the person to whom process against it served upon the Chief Financial Officer is to be made available through the department’s secure online portal. The insurer may change the designation at any time by a new filing.
(5) This section shall be cumulative to any other methods which may be provided by law for service of process upon the insurer.
History.—s. 376, ch. 59-205; s. 8, ch. 63-86; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 318, 807, ch. 82-243; ss. 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 311, ch. 97-102; s. 1025, ch. 2003-261; s. 53, ch. 2022-138.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations
Part VIII - Unauthorized Insurers and Surplus Lines (Ss. 626.901-626.939)
626.901 - Representing or aiding unauthorized insurer prohibited.
626.902 - Penalty for representing unauthorized insurer.
626.903 - Suits by unauthorized insurers prohibited.
626.904 - Unauthorized Insurers Process Law; short title; interpretation.
626.905 - Purpose of Unauthorized Insurers Process Law.
626.906 - Acts constituting Chief Financial Officer as process agent.
626.907 - Service of process; judgment by default.
626.909 - Jurisdiction of office and department; service of process on Secretary of State.
626.912 - Exemptions from ss. 626.904-626.911.
626.913 - Surplus Lines Law; short title; purposes.
626.915 - Surplus lines insurance authorized.
626.916 - Eligibility for export.
626.917 - Eligibility for export; wet marine and transportation, aviation risks.
626.918 - Eligible surplus lines insurers.
626.919 - Withdrawal of eligibility; surplus lines insurer.
626.9201 - Notice of cancellation or nonrenewal.
626.9202 - Loss run statements for all lines of insurance.
626.921 - Florida Surplus Lines Service Office.
626.922 - Evidence of the insurance; changes; penalty.
626.923 - Filing copy of policy or certificate.
626.924 - Information required on contract.
626.925 - Surplus lines insurance valid.
626.926 - Liability of insurer as to losses and unearned premiums.
626.927 - Licensing of surplus lines agent.
626.9271 - Temporary license; death, disability, absence of surplus lines agent.
626.9272 - Licensing of nonresident surplus lines agents.
626.929 - Origination, acceptance, placement of surplus lines business.
626.9295 - Corporations, liability of agent.
626.930 - Records of surplus lines agent.
626.931 - Agent affidavit and insurer reporting requirements.
626.933 - Collection of tax and service fee.
626.934 - Accounting for funds; contingent commissions.
626.935 - Suspension, revocation, or refusal of surplus lines agent’s license.
626.936 - Failure to file reports or pay tax or service fee; administrative penalty.
626.9361 - Failure to file report; administrative penalty.
626.937 - Actions against insurer; service of process.
626.9371 - Payment of premiums and claims.
626.9372 - Disclosure statement of certain information required; liability claims.
626.9374 - Liability of insureds; deductible and coinsurance.
626.938 - Report and tax of independently procured coverages.